title: Effect of Escherichia coli endotoxin on Archachatina marginata hemolymph coagulation system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Archachatina marginata Swainson (Achatinidae) is found in Nigeria, West Africa. Its hemolymph is applied as a disinfectant to blades and fresh cuts of circumcision in Yorubaland. The hemolymph is also used in traditional medicine practice. Investigation into its anti-endotoxin response is being studied for the first time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study determined whether endotoxin causes measurable and concentration-dependent protein coagulation in the separate hemolymph fractions and in hemocyte lysate (HL)/plasma mixtures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endotoxin was prepared by inoculating 5% w/v dextrose with locally isolated Escherichia coli cells and incubated for 48 h before sterilization. Pyrogenicity was determined by rabbit test method and use the of LAL kit. Hemolymph fractions were exposed to endotoxin while controls were exposed to endotoxin-free water (0.025 EU/ml). HL/plasma (1:1 v/v) was exposed to varied endotoxin concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data indicated significantly higher protein coagulates induced by endotoxin in all the hemolymph fractions (P < 0.05). Maximum protein coagulation in mixture of HL/plasma 1:1 was recorded. Exposure of HL/plasma at optimal ratio to varied endotoxin caused linear protein coagulation up to 1.0 EU/ml, beyond which it dropped significantly and unresponsive to further increase in endotoxin doses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was endotoxin-induced protein coagulation, which is endotoxin concentration-dependent. The optimal coagulation observed for 1:1 HL/plasma mixture suggests stronger interaction between the hemocytes and the plasma in response to endotoxin. There are LPS-binding proteins in the plasma and hemocytes of A. marginata. This finding may be employed in detection and quantification of endotoxin in future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. musasalawu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Musa O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Salawu
authors.forename: Oyelola B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Oloyede
authors.forename: Adenike T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Oladiji
authors.forename: Nasiru O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Musa T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Yakubu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000502:physiology; D008033:Limulus Test; D010949:Plasma / Q000187:drug effects; D011506:Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D012908:Snails / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D004731:Endotoxins; D011506:Proteins; C044101:endotoxin, Escherichia coli