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Observations on the Gill of Viviparus bengalensis in Relation to Calcium Uptake and Storage
Author(s) -
Gupta A. Sen
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
acta zoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1463-6395
pISSN - 0001-7272
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6395.1977.tb00247.x
Subject(s) - calcium , biology , prosobranchia , glycogen , biophysics , gastropoda , biochemistry , anatomy , zoology , medicine
Viviparus bengalensis (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) possesses a single bipinnate gill consisting of about 600 filaments. On account of large surface area, ciliation, polarized glycogen and alkaline phosphatase and an investing acid mucopolysaccharide layer, this organ is eminently suited to calcium ion uptake. In addition to this function, it is also secondarily an organ of calcium storage. This stored calcium is distinct from other forms of stored calcium already reported in that it is exceedingly susceptible to osmotic disturbances and very labile. It is possible that this serves as an almost instantaneously mobilizable reserve in times of calcium demand.