Changes in glutamine levels during starvation and aestivation in the Indian apple snailPila globosa (Swainson)

Summary The glutamine levels in digestive gland, foot and body fluids of normal, starved and aestivatedPila globosa were estimated. Glutamine content was decreased during starvation and aestivation. The percent decrease was more during aestivation than starvation. The decrease may be due to low glutamine-synthetase activity or increased utilization for uric acid synthesis. This may have an adaptive value during aestivation and starvation.Acknowledgments. C. Sree Ramulu Chetty and P. Aruna are thankful to CSIR for the award of Junior fellowships, during the tenure of which the work has been done.