EFFECT OF HIGH DOSAGES OF BACTERIAL CHALLENGE ON ACID-PHOSPHATASE RELEASE FROM BIOMPHALARIA-GLABRATA HEMOCYTES

Specimens of B. glabrata challenged with 2 .mu.l of heat-killed Bacillus megaterium at a concentration of 9 .times. 109 bacteria/ml showed a significant elevation of acid phosphatase activity level at 2 h post-challenge, but there were no significant fluctuations of enzyme activity at any of the other 4 time intervals post-challenge. Substantiating the earlier hypothesis of Cheng [(1983b), (1983c)], it is postulated that if the dosage of the challenging agent is high, most of the recognition sites on the cell, nuclear and/or lysosomal membranes become saturated and hence are unavailable for the recognition of subsequent challenge. Also, there is a burst of enzyme hypersynthesis and subsequent release which is reflected by a significant elevation of serum enzyme activity level which, in the present case, occurred at 2 h post-challenge.