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The pallial organ of Atrina pectinata (Bivalvia: Pinnidae): its structure and function
Author(s) -
LIANG X. Y.,
MORTON B.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1988.tb02443.x
Subject(s) - biology , bivalvia , mollusca , mantle (geology) , zoology , anatomy , paleontology
Hitherto, the unique pallial organ of the Pinnidae has been considered to fulfil a cleansing role, removing sediment and shell fragments from the mantle cavity. This study of the pallial organ of Atrina pectinata describes structure in greater detail than before but was unable to demonstrate a cleansing function. Rather, the organ is thigmotropic and massively secretory. Study of the pallial organ head demonstrates it to have a pH of between 2 and 4 and that tall, apparently empty cells in the head epithelium contain sulphuric acid which can be precipitated as barium sulphate crystals following irrigation with barium chloride. Acid‐secreting cells are recorded from a number of animal groups, notably opisthobranch gastropods, where they are concluded to possess a defensive function. Such a structure has not hitherto been recorded from the Bivalvia.