Studies on the activity of the alkaline phosphatase in the midgut of infected silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The effects of several factors on the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) in the midgut of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L were studied. The ALKP activity varied greatly among the tested strains. There was positive correlation between ALKP activity and cocoon quality. The ALKP activity of the midgut decreased when the silkworm was infected with cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV); whereas, infection with nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) did not affect ALKP activity. This suggests that the pathogenic mechanism of CPV differs from that of NPV. Bacillus thuringiensis caused direct damage to the midgut tissues of the silkworm with a rapid decline in ALKP activity. Activation of ALKP by Mg2+ was more evident than the other chemicals. Ascorbic acid, Ca2+, citric acid and Cl– were inhibitory to ALKP in vitro.