Phosphatase activity in the hepatopancreas of Helix aspersa

1. Phosphatase acid (PhA) activity in the digestive gland (hepatopancreas) of the common garden snail Helix aspersa has been investigated using cytochemical methods. 2. All the cells composing this gland show PhA activity, the distribution pattern differing according to the cell type. 3. The digestive cells show the most widely distributed reaction product (brush border, phagolysosomes, multivesicular bodies and autophagic vacuoles). 4. In the excretory cells this activity appears in large sacs, while in the calcium cells the reaction product is abundant in the calcium granules. 5. Cellular digestion processes performed by each of these cell types is discussed together with their role in the detoxification of heavy elements derived from the environment.