CELLULAR MORPHOLOGY OF DIGESTIVE GLAND OF 3 GASTROPOD MOLLUSKS FROM DIFFERENT HABITATS

Different types of digestive gland cells have been described in differ ent gastropod molluscs by various authors. Some authors opined that th ere may be different physiological phases of a particular cell type. I n the present study three gastropod molluscs from different habitats w ere selected, namely, terrestrial Laevicaulis alte, fresh water, Pila globosa and estuarine, Pugilina cochlidium. From their cell type analy sis primarily two types of cells have been observed in L. alte and P. cochlidium and three types in P. globosa. Morphological changes in the se cell types have been observed and are identified as functional phas es of the same cell type.