An electron microscopic histochemical and X-ray microprobe study of spherites in a mussel

Davis, Walter L.; Jones, Ruth G.; Knight, James P.; Hagler, Herbert K.

doi:10.1016/0040-8166(82)90007-6

Cited by 18 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Mineralised granules are commonly observed in invertebrate tissues, but most are intracellular or are expelled as a form of excretion, so extracellular calcium-and phosphorus-rich granules in freshwater mussels are unusual (Brown 1982). When prepared by standard aqueous techniques, most of the granules in H. depressa and V. ambiguus resemble those found in other freshwater mussel species in appearance and chemical composition, with large amounts of Ca and P and lesser amounts of Fe and Mn and other trace constituents detected (Roinel et al 1973;Davis et al 1982;Silverman et al 1983;Jeffree and Simpson 1984;Steffens et al 1985;Pynnönen et al 1987;Colville 1994). Some studies of unionids have reported the presence of carbonate in some granules (Moura et al 1999), but Jeffree et al (1993) considered that the granules in H. depressa and V. ambiguus were probably mainly phosphate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Colville¹,

Lim²

2003

Molluscan Res.

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There has been increasing interest in freshwater mussels (order Unionoida) in recent years because their numbers are declining in many parts of the world and also because they have potential as monitors of pollution. Most studies have been performed on the families Unionidae and Margaritiferidae from North America and Europe, and comparatively little is known of the Hyriidae from Australasia. The present study describes the microscopic structure of tissues in the mantle and palps of two hyriid mussels, namely Velesunio ambiguus and Hyridella depressa, as viewed by light and electron microscopy. The two mussels show similarities with the unionids and margaritiferids, particularly the presence of extracellular mineralised granules. The mantle and palps of V. ambiguus and H. depressa consist of flaps of tissue bordered on the inner and outer surfaces by simple epithelia. The intervening tissue is dominated by connective tissue containing vesicular cells, muscle, nerves and blood spaces with haemocytes. Orange-yellow extracellular calcified granules are a prominent feature of the interstitial tissues. The abundance of calcified granules in the mantle of H. depressa is greater than that in V. ambiguus and there are differences in the appearance of the apical vesicles in epithelial cells.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Colville¹,

Lim²

2003

Molluscan Res.

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“…Other researchers who tried to repeat their work could not detect Ca5(P04), and so the suggestion was rejected by most malacologists (Wilbur, 1964). However, recent reports of P as well as many other accessory elements in molluscan mantle spherulites (Davis et al, 1982;Petit et al, 1981) and even in the inner shell lamellae (Marsh & Sass, 1983 have reopened the matter. In any event, the large maximum amounts of S and P detected in A. plicata (see Results) does suggest a disturbance in the mussel's calcium physiology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediment particles as a cause of nacre staining in the freshwater mussel, Amblema plicata (Say) (Bivalvia: Unionidae)

Rosenberg

Henschen

1986

Hydrobiologia

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Brown stains sometimes appear in the inner shell layers (nacre) of freshwater mussels. An electron microprobe was used to analyze the stained nacre of the unionid Amblema plicata (Say, 1817) from selected localities on the Mississippi River in the vicinity of Lacrosse and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.Several elements such as Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, C1, K, and Fe are more highly concentrated in stained than in unstained nacre. Concentrations of these elements relative to Ca were found to vary significantly among the localities from which the specimens were obtained. Ratios have significantly higher variances downstream of the confluence of the Yellow and Mississippi Rivers, downstream of a barge fleeting area, near the town of Marquette, Iowa, near the site of sewage effluent for Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and downstream of a scrap metal yard near Lacrosse, Wisconsin in contrast to control localities.Suspended silt, the result of runoff and river activity (barge traffic, dredging, pleasure boating) may be the stimulus for stain formation. Clay minerals adsorb accessory elements and in turbid water are trapped within the pallial space of A. plicata. The mussel secretes an organic-rich, periostracum-like layer over the entrapped sediment, and later reverts to prismatic and finally nacreous shell deposition. Some of the elements found in the stain could directly disturb Ca metabolism by competing with Ca for binding sites in shell aragonite.

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Calcium concretions in the gills of a freshwater mussel serve as a calcium reservoir during periods of hypoxia

1983

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The gill of the freshwater mussel, Ligumia subrostrata, is composed of 25% calcium concretions on a dry weight basis. These concretions are located extracellularly in the connective tissue of the gill. The concretions have a lamellar structure and occur singly, multiply, and in clumps. The concretions are composed primarily of calcium phosphate and an organic matrix. The concretions are more numerous toward the base of the gill and less frequent in the tip of the gill. The average size of the concretions is 2-3 pm. The concretions are not solubilized in animals exposed to prolonged hypoxic conditions. Instead, as calcium increases in the blood under hypoxic conditions the percentage of the gill dry weight attributed to concretion material increases and the calcium content of the concretion material is elevated. The calcium content of the concretions also is inversely correlated with blood pH. This study indicated that the concretion material in the gills was not mobilized under hypoxic conditions, but served as a calcium reservoir during periods in which the animal was liberating calcium from other sites.

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An electron microscopic histochemical and X-ray microprobe study of spherites in a mussel

Cited by 18 publications

References 19 publications

Untitled

Untitled

Sediment particles as a cause of nacre staining in the freshwater mussel, Amblema plicata (Say) (Bivalvia: Unionidae)

Calcium concretions in the gills of a freshwater mussel serve as a calcium reservoir during periods of hypoxia

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