title: Cytochemical investigation of the digestive gland of two strombidae species (Strombus gigas and Strombus pugilis) in relation to the nutrition.
abstract: Strombus gigas and Strombus pugilis are threatened species and aquaculture represents a good alternative solution to the fishing. In this study, we highlighted the intracellular digestion process in the digestive gland of two Strombidae species, S. gigas and Strombuspugilis, by the cytochemical characterization of two lysosomal enzymes: acid phosphatase and arylsulfatase. In order to check the efficiency of artificial food digestion, we conducted the characterization on freshly collected, starved and artificially fed individuals of S. pugilis. TEM observations of digestive gland sections from freshly collected individuals of both species revealed the presence of acid phosphatase and arylsulfatase activity mostly located in the apical third of digestive cells. Both enzymes were also detected in artificially fed individuals. In response to the starvation, acid phosphatase is not produced anymore by digestive cells, while arylsulfatase is still present. To our knowledge, this is the first cytochemical validation of intracellular digestion of artificial food in Strombidae. This study highlights the intracellular digestion of artificial food developed for Strombidae aquaculture. Moreover, we have shown that the lysosomal activity could be used as a feed index.
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie, UMR 7138 SAE, Equipe Biologie de la mangrove, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, UFR des Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Pointe-à-Pitre Cedex, Guadeloupe, France. volland_jeanmarie@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Volland
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gros
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D001192:Arylsulfatases / Q000032:analysis; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods; D004064:Digestive System / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D001192:Arylsulfatases