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Isolation and characterization of granules from the kidney of the bivalveMercenaria mercenaria

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Abstract

Intracellular and extracellular granules are found in most bivalve kidneys. We examined the composition of kidney granules from the infaunal bivalveMercenaria mercenaria (L.) collected in 1985 from Cataumet Bay, Bourne, and Waquoit Bay, Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA. Small granules are numerically dominant, but large granules dominate the samples on the basis of weight. Large granules (estimated diam. >15 μm) are composed primarily of metals (28% by weight) with Mn (8%), Ca (8%), Zn (4%) and Fe (4%) as the major contributors. Non-metal elements (P, C, H, N, S) together constituted 21% of the granule dry weight, though organic content (0.02% protein, 0.3% carbohydrate and 0.5% lipid) was low. Small kidney granules (≤10 μm diam.) and digestive gland granules fromM. mercenaria had significantly higher C, H, and N contents than larger kidney granules. Our results, taken together with those from other bivalve species, suggest that kidney granule formation and subsequent increase in size is a continuous process of lysosomal maturation, residual body release and extracellular accumulation of predominately inorganic elements.

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Author notes

  1. P. A. Sullivan

    Present address: Harold E. Edgerton Research Laboratory, New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, 02110, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, 01908, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA

    P. A. Sullivan & M. P. Morse

  2. Harold E. Edgerton Research Laboratory, New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, 02110, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    W. E. Robinson

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  1. P. A. Sullivan
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  2. W. E. Robinson
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  3. M. P. Morse
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Communicated by J. P. Grassle, Woods Hole

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Sullivan, P.A., Robinson, W.E. & Morse, M.P. Isolation and characterization of granules from the kidney of the bivalveMercenaria mercenaria . Mar. Biol. 99, 359–368 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02112128

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