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Role of intestinal mucus in crystal biogenesis: an electron-microscopical, diffraction and X-ray microanalytical study

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Summary

In the posterior intestine of the sea-water eel, mucus plays an important role in biocrystallization of calcium ions. By means of transmission and scanning electron microscopy associated with X-ray microanalysis and X-ray diffraction it has been possible to determine the role of mucous fibers as nucleation sites. Biocrystallization occurs in 2 steps: (1) Calcification of mucus. As soon as mucus is excreted in the intestinal lumen, it is loaded with calcium, as shown by lanthanum affinity and X-ray microanalysis on freeze-dried tissues. (2) Genesis of crystals. Needleshaped crystallites build up in coalescent spherites in the intestinal lumen near the microvilli. Genesis occurs as follows: (a) crystallite mineralization by nucleation in an organic matrix composed of glycoproteinaceous mucous fibers, followed by the appearance of spherites; (b) coalescence in spherites and association of spherites in rhombohedra; (c) extrusion of organic material during the final step of crystallization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Louis Pasteur, Laboratoire de Zoologie, CNRS LIRA 226, Strasbourg, France

    W. Humbert, R. Kirsch & V. Simonneaux

  2. Centre de Recherches Odontologiques, INSERM U157, Strasbourg, France

    J. C. Voegel

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  1. W. Humbert
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  2. J. C. Voegel
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  3. R. Kirsch
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  4. V. Simonneaux
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Humbert, W., Voegel, J.C., Kirsch, R. et al. Role of intestinal mucus in crystal biogenesis: an electron-microscopical, diffraction and X-ray microanalytical study. Cell Tissue Res. 255, 575–583 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218793

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