Journal of Molluscan Research, (JMR) Volume 8, 2022
Authors: Iyeh, C.I1*; Akinhanmi, O.1 ; Akinnusi, F.A.O. and Idowu, A.B.
ABSTRACT
Snails are cold-blooded animals with a soft body consisting of outer shell known as exoskeleton. Climatic conditions leading to changes in the environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity create physiological and biochemical adjustments, during this condition snails aestivate. This research was conducted using the haemolymph to study the effects of short-term aestivation in Giant African Land Snail (Archachatina marginata) during a two-week aestivation period. The haemolymph biological properties studied were cortisol, Follicle stimulating hormone, Oestrogen, Progesterone and Luteinizing hormone.
Twelve juvenile giant African land snails were used for this study. Haemolymph was collected using apical decapitation of the shell. Thereafter, haemolymph Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing (LH), Oestrogen (OE), Progesterone (P) and Cortisol (CORT) were all analysed via Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Data collected were analysed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that short-term aestivation had a significant effect (P<0.05) on reproductive hormones (FSH, LH and OE), except for progesterone (P). Short-term aestivation also significantly (P<0.05) affected cortisol. It was obvious from the trend that FSH, LH and OE decreased significantly as aestivation days increased. In conclusion, short-term aestivation had a significant effect on FSH, LH and OE in the giant African Land Snail (A. marginata). Also, there was a significant decrease in cortisol concentration during aestivation.
Keywords: steroids, giant African land snails, aestivation, cortisol
