EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED ELEVATIONS IN ACID-PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY IN HEMOLYMPH OF BIOMPHALARIA-GLABRATA (MOLLUSCA)

The levels of acid phosphatase activity in the hemocytes and serum of the following four groups of the pulmonate gastropod Biomphalaria glabrata were ascertained: (1) those injected with heat-killed Bacillus megaterium, (2) those challenged with sterile distilled water, (3) those shaminjected, and (4) those left untampered. It was determined that challenge with heat-killed bacteria sesulted in significant elevations in acid phosphatase activity in both cells and serum at 1, 2, and 4 hr postinjection, with the level being highest at 2 hr. Injection with water resulted in a significant elevation in cellular enzyme level at 1 hr postinjection but not at 2 and 4 hr; however, there were significant elevations at 2 and 4 hr in serum. This is interpreted to indicate that the elevated intracellular enzyme was subsequently released into serum. Sham injection resulted in significant elevations in acid phosphatase levels in hemocytes at 2 and 4 hr postinjection but no increase of enzyme activity in serum during the course of the experiment. This is interpreted to mean that this hydrolase was not released as a result of sham injection. The source of acid phosphatase was apparently the cytoplasmic granules of granulocytes, which are true lysosomes. © 1979.