so URGES OF ENERGY IN ANAEROBIOSIS 181 



his assumptions. If they are correct, the power of gly- 

 cogen synthesis of these organisms must be remarkably 

 well developed. 



Coelenterates. Whether coelenterates metab- 

 olize polysaccharide when deprived of oxygen, has never 

 been investigated. The occurrence of glycogen in Hydra, 

 in actinians and in corals has been established by Beut- 

 ler (1924, 1929) and Hosoi (1932), but the amount stored 

 never appears to be high. 



Worms. Grlycogen is by far the most important en- 

 ergy reserve for the anaerobic life of both free-living 

 and parasitic worms. The quantitative data available on 

 the glycogen consumption of worms have been assembled 

 in Table 23. Wherever possible figures for the glycogen 

 degradation in the presence of air have been included. 

 Thus the quotient of the consumption in anaerobic versus 

 aerobic conditions can be computed. It is quite obvious 

 that in worms, like the earthworm or planarians, which 

 in nature are adapted to an aerobic life, this quotient is 

 high. Two reasons can be found for this fact: (1) Under 

 conditions of good oxygenation the carbohydrate is com- 

 pletely oxidized and much more energy" is produced than 

 in the fermentative decomposition of a corresponding 

 amount of polysaccharide under anaerobic conditions. 

 So, even if the energy requirements of an organism de- 

 prived of oxygen are materially reduced due to a decrease 

 in muscular activity, large amounts of carbohydrate must 

 be metabolized in order to produce just the minimum 

 quantity of energ}^ required. (2) Under anaerobic con- 

 ditions, relatively more glycogen but less fat or protein 

 is decomposed, i.e., a larger percentage of the total en- 

 ergy is derived from carbohydrate. 



In worms like Ascaris, on the contrary, wbich, in na- 

 ture, lead a predominantly anaerobic life and whose me- 

 tabolism in air is characterized by the fermentation of 

 carbohydrates, the quotient is low. The reason is ob- 



