Some studies onLaevicaulis alte haemocyanin in relation to starvation

Abstract

The copper and protein concentrations in the blood and in the purified haemoeyanin of active and starved slugs were detennined.During starvation there is a marked decrease in the haemocyanin concentration in the blood. How. ever the copper protein ratio of the purified haemocyanin of the active and starved slugs remained unchanged suggesting that baemocyanin remains unaltered during starvation.There is a significant increase of hepatopancreatic copper upon starvation. The hepatopancreas is suggested to store copper during starvation. The results are discussed in the light of the previous works on crustaceans and molluscs,