Abstract
Ariolimax californicus is a species of land mollusk common in the vicinity of Stanford University. It is striking because of its yellow color and large size.
The blood of this mollusk is blue when oxidized and the blood ash contains little or no iron but much copper. It is, therefore, concluded that the oxygen carrying protein is hemocyanin. Urea, uric acid, ammonia and creatine + creatinine were found in the blood by qualitative tests. It contained 2.2 percent solids, 0.35 percent ash, and 0.22 percent total nitrogen.
Extracts of the salivary glands, stomach, intestine and liver were examined for the presence of enzymes. The salivary glands yielded a diastatic enzyme which was most active on the acid side of neutrality. Diastase, lactase, maltase and emulsin were found throughout the alimentary tract. Proteolytic enzymes could not be detected by experiments in vitro.
That the nephridium possesses a true excretory function was indicated by its composition. On the fresh basis, it contained 0.5 percent uric acid (Folin-Denis method) and 0.016 percent of creatine + creatinine (Folin-Benedict method).
The rate of glycogen consumption was determined in liver and muscle while the mollusks were held without food. The glycogen content of the muscle, as determined (by Pflüger's method, decreased from the normal of about 30 percent (dry basis) to 19.4 percent after the animals had been held at room temperature without food for fifteen days. In another lot, held in the refrigerator fifteen days, the muscle glycogen dropped to 5.4 percent.
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