Effect of Thiourea, a Chemosterilant on Egg Laying, Embryonic Development, Nucleic Acid Levels and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity on the Giant African Land Snail, Achatina Fulica Singh Deepika1, Mahendru V.K.2 1Department of Zoology, Khandelwal College of Management Science and Technology, Bareilly (U.P.). 2Department of Zoology, Bareilly College, Bareilly–243 005 (India). Abstract The giant African land snail, Achatina fulica is not only a serious pest of vegetable crops but is also involved in the transmission of lung worm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis in mammals. To control its fecundity, they were fed with the three different doses i.e. 0.1mg, 0.2mg and 0.4 mg of Thiourea, a chemosterilant mixed with wet wheat flour bait. The effect of this drug on egg laying capability, embryonic development, nucleic acid concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity in the ovotestis of the snail were studied. The treatment with this chemosterilant not only reduced the egg laying capability of snail but also inhibited the embryonic development in the laid eggs. The DNA and RNA levels along with the activity of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase which play multiferous role in regulating metabolism were found to be inhibited. Thus, indicating a wide variety of changes in the metabolism of the treated group of snails. Top Keywords Achatina fulica, Chemosterilant, Alkaline phosphatase, Nucleic acid. Top |