THE EFFECT OF HEMOLYMPH EXTRACTION ON DISTRIBUTION OF LYSOSOMAL-ENZYMES IN LYMNAEA-STAGNALIS HEMOCYTES - A CYTOCHEMICAL STUDY

An enzyme cytochemical, light microscopy study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of haemolymph extraction on distribution of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, and peroxidase in haemocytes of Lymnaea stagnalis. The study revealed that discrete acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, and peroxidase-staining subpopulations of haemocytes do exist in L. stagnalis, and that there are differences in distribution. A high percentage, about 96%, of haemocytes showed positive reaction for peroxidase, the percentage of haemocytes showing activity for alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase, was about 54, 42, and 34, respectively. Haemolymph extraction by foot retraction, significantly affected enzyme distribution. Whereas distribution of acid phosphatase increased significantly from day 1 to 5 after extraction of haemolymph, that of all other enzymes showed significant decrease from day 1 to 7 depending upon the enzyme. The distribution of all enzymes stabilized by day 8 after extraction of haemolymph. Probable reasons for the observed fluctuations in the distribution of enzymes subsequent to haemolymph extraction are discussed.