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Abstract. The albumen gland is a female accessory sex gland that synthesizes and secretes perivitelline fluid around pulmonate eggs. The perivitelline fluid is composed of mainly galactogen and proteins, and is thought to provide nourishment to the embryos during development. We have previously identified the major secretory protein of the albumen gland of the freshwater snail Helisoma duryi as a native glycoprotein of ∼288 kDa, consisting of four 66‐kDa subunits. In this study, the major albumen gland protein in H. duryi was purified, cloned, and the full‐length cDNA sequence determined. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the albumen gland protein (HdAGP) shared 83% identity with a partial cDNA sequence from a developmentally regulated albumen gland protein in Biomphalaria glabrata. The HdAGP mRNA was detected by RT‐PCR in the albumen gland, ovotestis, mantle and digestive gland. SDS‐PAGE analysis of the albumen gland protein in egg masses at different stages of development showed that the amount of HdAGP steadily decreased during embryogenesis, suggesting its possible catabolism by the developing embryos. Protein domain searches suggested that the HdAGP shared limited sequence identity, and adopted a similar three‐dimensional conformation to the bactericidal, permeability increasing, protein family, raising the possibility of a potential bactericidal function for this important reproductive/developmental protein.

The structure and function of the accessory boring organ (ABO) of muricid gastropods has been described in numerous studies, and the ABO of Nucella lamellosa was found to be similar to those of other muricid species. The active cap region of the ABO is composed of tall, mitochondria-rich cells with distinct brush borders at their apicies, surrounding a hemolymph-containing central sinus. Using antibodies specific for vacuolar-type ATPase (V-ATPase), enzyme immunoreactivity was found to be limited to the brush border of the epithelial cells. Electron immunohistochemistry revealed that V-ATPase immunoreactivity resides in the plasma membranes of the microvilli. Immunodot blotting using yeast V-ATPase as a positive control confirmed the specificity of the reactions. SDS-PAGE of membrane suspensions from the ABO revealed protein bands of the requisite molecular weight for V-ATPase subunits. Western blots suggest that antibodies raised against mammalian V-ATPase subunits recognize subunits of the molluscan V-ATPase. The molecular weights of these identified subunits are similar to those in mammals. The V-ATPase-specific inhibitor bafilomycin A1 inhibited ATPase activity in samples of ABO homogenate by about 10% relative to control, providing further evidence for the presence of V-ATPase. Specific V-ATPase activity was about 67 picomoles of inorganic phosphate per microgram of protein per minute in the homogenate. Collectively this evidence strongly suggests that a vacuolar-type proton transporting ATPase is present in the brush border of the accessory boring organ of Nucella lamellosa, and is responsible for acidifying secretions from this gland. Similarities between the ABO, osteoclasts, and the mantle of freshwater bivalves also suggest that the mechanism for decalcification of calcareous substrates is conserved.

Using histological techniques at the light-microscope level, we examined and compared structure and sexual dimorphism of the wing sacs and integumentary glandular scent organs of 11 species of microchiropteran bats. The antebrachial wing sacs of the Neotropical emballonurids Peropteryx macrotis, Saccopteryx bilineata, and Saccopteryx leptura differed in size and location but lacked sudoriferous and sebaceous glands, confirming that they were holding sacs rather than glandular scent organs. Glandular scent organs from 11 species consisted of sebaceous and (or) sudoriferous glands in emballonurids (P. macrotis, S. bilineata, S. leptura, Taphozous melanopogon, Taphozous nudiventris), hipposiderids (Hipposiderous fulvus, Hipposiderous ater), the phyllostomid Sturnira lilium, the vespertilionid Rhogeessa anaeus, and molossids (Molossus ater and Molossus sinaloe). Glandular scent organs were located on the face (H. fulvus, H. ater), gular region (S. bilineata, P. macrotis, T. melanopogon, M. ater, M. sinaloe), chest (T. nudiventris), shoulder (S. lilium), or ears (R. anaeus). Glandular scent organs showed greater similarities within than between families, and typically were rudimentary or lacking in females. Scanning electron microscope examination revealed that the hairs associated with glandular areas of male T. melanopogon were larger and had a different cuticular-scale pattern than body hairs. These were osmetrichia, hairs specialized for holding and dispersing glandular products. In S. lilium, hairs associated with the shoulder scent-gland area were larger than body hairs but similar in cuticular-scale pattern.