The Variations in Aminotransferase Enzymes and Commercial Parameters of the Silkworm as Influenced by Exogenous Supplementation of Zinc Chloride

The silkworm, Bombyx mori L. exclusively used as an invertebrate laboratory model and drag the attention of many researchers in the field of nutritional studies. In the current investigation the popular cross breed PM x CSR2 was used in order to know the influence of supplementation of zinc chloride on aminotransferase activity as well as commercial parameters of silkworm. The larvae reared on mulberry leaf treated with zinc chloride at 0.2per cent concentration registered elevated levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities as compared to remaining treatments viz., 0.6 and 1.0 per cent. Similarly, silkworm administrated with zinc chloride (0.2 %) also enhance commercial parameters which includes larval weight, cocoon weight, shell weight, shell percentage, filament length, reelability, denier, renditta and raw silk percentage. Comparatively, alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities were relatively higher in the fat body tissue than silk gland. Irrespective of the treatments, enzyme activities were maximum during 5th instar 6th day old larvae as compared to 5th instar 1st day.