Ref ID : 7800
Leo F. LeJambree, Harry D. Crofton, and John H. Whitlock; An assay technique for nematode egg hatchability. Trans.Amer.Micros.Soc. 89(3):397-406, 1970
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A technique is described of differentiating viable and nonviable nematode eggs. Acridine orange stain was used and some eggs took up stain, but others did not. Differences in permeability to acridine orange appeared to be related to the presence or absence of an inner shell membrane which is produced only when the egg is fertilized. The chorionic membranes appeared to be completely permeable. The proportion of eggs permeable to the stain was higher in eggs dissected from worms than in eggs laid by worms in vitro. Eggs taking the stain had a greater mean size and variance than those that did not. Eggs resisting the stain collected from in vitro maintained worms had a smaller mean size and variance than did those taken from the uterus. Thus, the best method of obtaining eggs for measuring would be to maintain the females in vitro while the eggs are released and then measure only those eggs that were impenetrable to acridine orange.