Biol. Bull. Sign up for etocs!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rivest, B. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Rivest, B. R.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 182, Issue 3 305-323, Copyright © 1992 by Marine Biological Laboratory

DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION

Studies on the Structure and Function of the Larval Kidney Complex of Prosobranch Gastropods

B. R. Rivest
Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, New York 13045

The larval kidneys of prosobranch gastropods have long been assumed to be involved in handling wastes, but with little supporting evidence. In this study, the larval kidneys of Searlesia dira and Nucella canaliculata were studied with light, electron, and fluorescence microscopy. They consist of three cell types: (1) a large external absorptive cell swollen with heterophagosomes and possessing an endocytotically active external surface; (2) an internal crystal cell with numerous vacuole-bound crystals of a calcium salt and with morphologically complex canaliculi; (3) an internal pore cell characterized by slit-pores that lead to subsurface cisternae, a tubular network, and one or two ciliated ducts that open into the hemocoel. Empirical evidence indicates that the absorptive cell rapidly takes up and stores albumen proteins from the capsular fluid. Absorptive cells were found in 17 of 19 species tested, representing three prosobranch orders, but were not found in 2 opisthobranch or 1 pulmonate species. We hypothesize that the absorptive cells have become specialized for the uptake of capsular albumen prior to the functional differentiation of the gut. However, the nutritional importance of the absorbed albumen proteins and the functions of the crystal and pore cells are presently unknown. No evidence for an excretory function was found for the larval kidney complex; it may be a vestigial protonephridium, the components of which have become disorganized and functionally altered.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
O. R. Chaparro, J. L. Charpentier, and R. Collin
Embryonic Velar Structure and Function of Two Sibling Species of Crepidula With Different Modes of Development
Biol. Bull., August 1, 2002; 203(1): 80 - 86.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1992 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.