Morpho-Anatomical Changes, Calcium and Glycolipid Deposition in the Gut of Archachatina marginata During Starvation

Abstract

The gut morpho-anatomy and physiology are related to the nature of diet and feeding pattern. The morpho-anatomical parameters, calcium and glycolipid deposition in the gut were determined in 0, 4 and 8 weeks starved giant African land snails, Archachatina marginata. A total of Forty-five (45) apparently healthy and matured snails (Archachatina marginata) with weight range of 150 – 250 g, laid out in completely randomized design, with 3 treatments having 3 replicates (5 snails per replicate) were utilised in this experiment. The organs of study for morpho-anatomical and histological dynamics were stomach and intestine. They were observed for calcium and glycolipid deposition using the Von Kossa (VK) and the Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) stain respectively over the varied lengths of starvation. Data from morpho-anatomical parameters such as (list of indices) were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using the Genstat package (12^th edition) and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test, where significant differences (p<0.05) existed. In morpho-anatomical parameters, intestines increase in length at the 4^th weeks of starvation, while stomach decrease in weight from 0 – 8 weeks of starvation. Presence of calcium deposit in the intestinal tissue and in the stomach tissue was not seen at 0 week of starvation which represent the non-starved period. Deposition of calcium progressively increases over the varied starvation lengths of 4^th weeks and 8^th weeks in the mucosa, submucosa and muscularis externa of the stomach and intestinal tissue. The intestinal and stomach deposition of glycolipid was however consistent over the starvation lengths of 0 week, 4^th weeks and 8^th weeks. Starvation of snails during the breeding season did not lower the presence of calcium and glycolipids in intestinal and stomach tissues.