Scheil Alexandra E, Hilsmann Stefanie, Triebskorn Rita, Köhler Heinz-R
Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 20, Tübingen 72072, Germany.
Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 20, Tübingen 72072, Germany ; Transfer Center for Ecotoxicology and Ecophysiology, Blumenstr. 13, Rottenburg 72108, Germany.
Results Immunol. 2013 Jul 3;3:73-8. doi: 10.1016/j.rinim.2013.06.002. eCollection 2013.
Shell colour polymorphism is a widespread feature of various land snail species. In our study we aimed at elucidating the question whether there is a correlation between shell colouration and immune defense in three land snail species by comparing phenoloxidase (PO) activity levels of different morphs after immunostimulation via Zymosan A-injection. Since phenoloxidase is involved both in immune defense as well as in melanin production, the PO activity level is particularly interesting when trying to resolve this question. Even though Zymosan A failed to induce PO activity rendering a comparison of inducible PO activity impossible, an interesting difference between pale and dark morphs of all tested species could be observed: dark snails were less affected by hemolymph withdrawal and were able to maintain or regenerate a significantly higher PO activity level after hemolymph withdrawal than pale snails. Possible implications of this observation are discussed.
壳色多态性是各种陆地蜗牛物种的一个普遍特征。在我们的研究中，我们旨在通过比较经酵母聚糖A注射免疫刺激后不同形态的酚氧化酶（PO）活性水平，来阐明三种陆地蜗牛物种的壳色与免疫防御之间是否存在相关性。由于酚氧化酶既参与免疫防御又参与黑色素生成，因此在试图解决这个问题时，PO活性水平特别值得关注。尽管酵母聚糖A未能诱导PO活性，使得无法比较诱导型PO活性，但在所有测试物种的浅色和深色形态之间可以观察到一个有趣的差异：深色蜗牛受血淋巴抽取的影响较小，并且在血淋巴抽取后能够维持或再生出比浅色蜗牛显著更高的PO活性水平。本文讨论了这一观察结果的可能影响。
