Some Chemical Constituents of the Mussel (Mytilus edulis)

Abstract

TISSUES of the common sea-mussel (Mytilus edulis), macerated in 60 % alcohol, during another investigation gave an extract which, after filtering and further addition of alcohol, deposited clusters of colourless crystals on standing. Experiment showed that this crvstalline substance was much more soluble in water than in alcohol and could always be thrown out by further addition of alcohol to the tissue-extracts. Within a range of 70-80 % alcohol, two distinct crystalline forms were observed together with a certain amount of brownish coloured gummy material. At alcoholic strengths nearer to 70 % the predominant form of the crystals was that of prismatic needles. From higher concentrations of alcohol the crystalline deposit was chiefly in the nature of stout hexagonal plates.Previous work with the mussel had been focussed principally upon the possible causes of poisoning in human beings after eating the mollusc [Furth, 1903] and Brieger [1889] isolated a supposed specifically poisonous body which he called mytilotoxin, the existence of which has been disputed by Thesen [1902].

Observations on the Breeding and Settlement ofMytilus Edulis(L.) in British Waters

“…Young (1942 and has also reached this conclusion in the case of M. californianus. In this connexion it is possibly significant that the glycogen content of M. edulis, as in Echinus and Ostrea, is reduced to a minimum value immediately prior to spawning (Daniel, 1921;Stott, 193I), suggesting that the development of the gonads occurs at the expense of reserve nutrient and is not dependent upon food ingested at this period, (see Fig. 8, p. 469).…”

“…Field (1922), Daniel (1921), and Bruce (1926) and suggested by Thorson (1946), who observed a very sudden rapid increase in the number of larvae in the Limfjord, this high density lasting for a short time only.…”

“…The decrease in volume on spawning is compensated to some degree by the intake of water (see Daniel, 1921), the mantle tissues becoming soft, spongy and semi-transparent. The residual ova and sperm are probably absorbed by phagocytosis by the cells of the follicle walls, and all trace of sexuality is lost.…”

“…Scott (1900) reports spawning of females only in talli,s at Piel, and upon the Barrow beds, in May 1899, the emission of ova continuing until 13 June, when the males also spawned. In more recent years, Daniel (1921) gives April and Mayas the spawning period in 1921, but as late March in the following year (a warm year). The heavy spat-fall in Morecambe Bay in June 1933, reported by Orton (1933), suggests a May spawning (cf.…”

“…observations; she concluded that, in Passamoquoddy Bay, the spawning period lasts for 3 months. Bruce (1926)and Daniel (1921)ascribe a short breeding period to Mytilus. The former states that spawning in laboratory tanks at Port Erin, which commenced in 1925 on 27 May, was completed by 5 June, whilst the latter observed a short spawning period on the Morecambe beds in 1921and 1922 which were both warm years.…”