Digestive enzymes in African Giant land snail (Archachatina marginata) during aestivation

• Published in: Archivos de zootecnia Vol. 62; no. 237; pp. 73 - 77
• Main Authors: Ademolu, K.O., Fakeye, O.D., Dedeke, G.A., Ajayi, O.A., Idowu, A.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Gut regions; Tracto digestivo
• ISSN: 0004-0592
• DOI: 10.4321/S0004-05922013000100008

The activities of digestive enzymes in the gut regions of African giant land snail, Archachatina marginata were investigated during aestivation induced in the laboratory by the withdrawal of water and food for three weeks. All studied enzymes, amylase, α-glucosidase, cellulase, lipase, and protease, were detected on the gut regions (oesophagus, crop, stomach and intestine). Aestivated snails had significantly lower enzyme activities in all the gut regions than the active snails. Furthermore the stomach recorded the highest enzyme activities of all the gut regions. Se investigaron las actividades de las enzimas del tracto digestivo del caracol gigante africano Archachatina marginata durante la estivación, inducida en laboratorio mediante retirada del agua y alimento durante tres semanas. Todas las enzimas estudiadas, amilasa, α-glucosidasa, celulasa, lipasa y proteasa fueron encontradas en las regiones del tracto digestivo (estómago, intestino, esofago y bulbo oral). Los caracoles en estivación tienen, en todas las regiones del tracto digestivo, actividades enzimáticas significativamente meno- res que los caracoles activos. En el estómago, se registró la mayor tasa de actividad enzimática de todo el tracto digestivo.