Etude de l'activité des corps dorsaux de l'escargot Helix aspersa Müller au cours des phases physiologiques de la vie adulte et sous différentes photopériodes / The activity of the dorsal bodies in the snail Helix aspersa Müller as related to photoperiod and to the different phases of the adult life cycle

Summary

The dorsal bodies (DB) have been investigated in mature Helix aspersa in different physiological states and in adult animals maintained under short- or long-day light cycles. Morphological criteria as well as a quantitative electron microscopical study do not indicate striking differences in DB cells of snails reared at different photoperiods. Compared with control animals, hibernation causes a reduced activity of the DB, whereas in egg-laying snails, the increase in DB cell size and protein synthesis, the large decrease in the amount of lipids and the mitochondrial changes suggest an activation of DB hormone synthesis.

Keywords:

• Helix aspersa
• dorsal body
• photoperiod
• hibernation