The effect of antibiotic treatment on the supercooling ability of the land snail Helix aspersa (Gastropoda: Pulmonata).
The land snail Helix aspersa is a partially freezing tolerant species whose supercooling ability is limited to ca. -3 to -5 degrees C. One hundred adult snails were subjected to the following two experimental conditions: (i) a starved group, provided with water; (ii) an antibiotic-treated group that was provided with a solution containing a mixture of two antibiotics. The antibiotic group exhibited a T(c) significantly lower than the starved group (-3.94 +/- 1.32 degrees C, n = 40 and -3.07 +/- 0.99, n = 30, t test, p < 0.005). This study showed that bacteria of the gut are likely to elevate animal supercooling points. It is also the first report in which a possible ice-nucleating activity of the gut microflora in a land snail has been suggested by the action of antibiotics on the T(c).
Ansart
Armelle
A
Université de Rennes 1, UMR 6553 Ecobio, Equipe Physiologie et Ecophysiologie, bat.14, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, CS 74205, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France. armelle.ansart@univ-rennes1.fr
Vernon
Philippe
P
Charrier
Maryvonne
M
Daguzan
Jacques
J
D000064:Acclimatization / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003081:Cold Climate; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005615:Freezing; D006372:Helix, Snails / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D009268:Nalidixic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009268:Nalidixic Acid; D013752:Tetracycline