EFFECTS OF STARVATION AND A CARBOHYDRATE-RICH DIET ON GLYCOGEN-METABOLISM IN A GASTROPOD MOLLUSK, MEGALOBULIMUS-OBLONGUS

1. Administration of a carbohydrate-rich diet increased haemolymph glu cose levels and glycogen concentration in hepatopancreas, mantle and m uscle. 2. Glycogen concentration in tissues decreases after 2 weeks of starvation and haemolymph glucose levels did not change significantly . 3. However, starvation did not induce a decrease in the intrinsic sy nthetic capacity in tissues. 4. Glycogen synthesis in tissues from ani mals fed with lettuce or a carbohydrate-rich diet, increases with incr easing glucose concentration in the media. 5. However, in mantle slice s from snails adapted on a carbohydrate-rich diet, the glycogen synthe tic capacity was lower than in slices from snails fed with lettuce.