Studies on the responses of isolated intestine of the Giant African land snail (Archachatina marginata) to drugs.

Abstract

The effects of some drugs on the isolated intestine of the Giant African land snail (Archachatina marginata, Swainson) have been investigated. The isolated intestine of the snail contracted in response to chemical stimulation by some cholinergic and adrenergic drugs. Acetylcholine and its analogues; nicotine and dimethylphenylpiperazinium, contracted the tissue preparation in a dose-related manner. Some also contracted the tissue preparation. These results were taken to imply the presence of cholinergic and sympathetic innervations in the tissue. The receptors present in the muscle have been classified as: (1) "nicotinic" and "muscarinic" cholinoreceptors, and (2) "alpha"-adrenoceptors respectively.