The effect of the brain and dorsal bodies of Helisoma duryi (mollusca: pulmonata) on albumen gland synthetic activity in vitro.
Albumen gland explants from Helisoma duryi can be maintained in a liquid culture medium for at least 96 hr. This allows measurement of incorporation of [14C]glucose into newly synthesized polysaccharides both retained in the tissue and released into the medium. The albumen gland basal synthetic activity is much higher in reproductively active than in reproductively inactive snails (maintained in constant darkness, virgin, or without dorsal bodies). The presence of the whole brain or cerebral ganglia (with dorsal bodies) of reproductively active snails in the culture medium stimulates polysaccharide synthesis in albumen gland explants from snails in constant darkness. Addition of dorsal body homogenate to the culture medium stimulates polysaccharide synthesis in albumen gland explants from snails without dorsal bodies. These results show that an endocrine factor from the dorsal bodies and possibly a neuroendocrine factor(s) from the cerebral ganglia directly stimulate polysaccharide synthesis in the albumen gland.
D000418:Albumins; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000502:physiology; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005724:Ganglia / Q000502:physiology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008027:Light; D008974:Mollusca / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012098:Reproduction
D000418:Albumins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D006003:Glycogen; D005947:Glucose