The Effects of Potassium Bromide on Biochemical Contents of the Fat Body and Haemolymph of Crossbreed Races of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori L

Oral supplementation with potassium bromide (10, 20 and 40 μg/ml) to fifth instar larvae of CSR2, CSR4 and CSR2xCSR4 crossbreed races of the silkworm, Bombyx mori resulted in a significant increase in the fat body glycogen in all the treated groups and in all the three races of the silkworm, B. mori. The fat body protein content was increased with 20 and 40 μg/ml treated groups in CSR2 and CSR4 races and in all the treated groups in CSR2xCSR4 cdrossbreed race of the silkworm, B. mori. However, there was a decrease in fat body protein with 10 μg/ml treated groups in CSR2 and CSR4 races. There was a significant increase in the haemolymph trehalose with 10 μg/ml in CSR2 race, in all the treated groups in CSR4 race and with 20 and 40 μg/ml treated groups in CSR2xCSR4 crossbreed race when compared over the respective carrier controls. There was also a significant increase in the haemolymph protein treated with 20 and 40 μg/ml in CSR2 race, with 10 and 20 μg/ml in CSR4 race and in all the treated groups in CSR2xCSR4 crossbreed race when compared over the respective carrier controls. There was a significant increase in the fat body total lipids with all the treated groups and in all the three races of the silkworm, but there was a significant decrease with 40 μg/ml treated group in CSR2xCSR4 race of the silkworm, B. mori when compared over the respective carrier controls. These results indicated that the biochemical contents of the fat body and haemolymph to potassium bromide showed good response in all the three races of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L.