Use of isolated digestive-gland cells in the study of biochemical and physiological processes in gastropod molluscs.
We describe a method for preparation and maintenance of isolated digestive-gland cells in the abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana. Viability of the isolated cells was confirmed by the fact that 18 h after preparation the cells exhibited less than 5% staining with trypan blue and actively synthesized glycogen following the addition of glucose substrate. Use of the method in a 15-month study of metabolic activity of the digestive gland of H. kamtschatkana showed significant differences in oxygen consumption of isolated-cell preparations correlated with seasonal differences in somatic and gametogenetic growth, and with relative size of the digestive gland.
Carefoot
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Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, BC V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, Canada. carefoot@zoology.ubc.ca
Taylor
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Land
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D000818:Animals; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D008974:Mollusca / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons