THE HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF DETARIUM-MICROCARPUM EXTRACT, A NATURALLY-OCCURRING PLANT MOLLUSCICIDE ON THE MIDGUT AND DIGESTIVE GLAND OFLYMNAEA-STAGNALIS

The histology, fine structure and histochemistry of the digestive glan d of Lymnaea stagnalis was examined before and after treatment with a crude water extract of a powerful molluscicidal plant, Detarium microc arpum. The results obtained indicate that the molluscicidal extract in duces necrosis in the digestive gland typified optically by cellular o edaema and nuclear pyknosis. At electron microscope level molluscicide treatment is seen to induce a major vacuolation and fragmentation of the cytoplasm. Lysosomal acid phosphatase and lysosomal integrity howe ver is preserved. Histochemically, both acid and alkaline phosphatase appear to survive treatment very well. In treated tissues there is a s hift of alkaline phosphatase from the brush border to the lumen. Mollu scicide treatment results in a distinct inhibition of ATPase activity which appears to be a characteristic feature of induced cell death.