Abstract

A transmission electron microscopic study was conducted in order to know basic tegumental structure of Cysticercus cellulosae which was obtained from the ventricles of human brain. In general, the electron microscopic appearance of the tegument resembled that of the body wall of adult and larval forms of other cestodes. The tegument both of the parenchymatous portion (scolex and spiral canal) and bladder portion consisted of such components , i.e., an outer vesicular layer with microtriches, and an inner fibrous layer. The subtegumental tissue below the fibrous layer was filled with muscle bundles and tegumental cells. The surface of the larva was covered by the microtriches of two distictly different types. The characteristic pyramid-shaped "tetrahedral" form was observed on the surface of the scolex portion, whereas the elongated, slender "filamentous" microtriches were distributed on the regions of the spiral canal and bladder portion. The tegumental and subtegumental tissues varied in thickenss from one region to the next. The possibility of application in making differential diagnosis from other larval cestodes and possible fuction of this larval tegument were discussed.