Does germanium interact with radular morphogenesis and biomineralization in the limpet Lottia gigantea?
Specimens of Lottia gigantea were incubated in germanium enriched seawater [( Ge]/[Si] = 0.2-783) for 1-8 days. The siliceous radulae were examined histologically. No visible changes, degenerations or deformations were found in all 62 experimental radulae, although germanium is known to be a competitive inhibitor of silicon. In high concentrations, germanium was toxic to the limpets and killed them. Germanium was incorporated into the radular teeth in a distribution similar to silicon. Two suggestions are discussed for the apparent noninhibitory result.
Rinkevich
B
B
D000818:Animals; D005857:Germanium / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D008974:Mollusca / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012623:Seawater; D012825:Silicon / Q000378:metabolism; D014070:Tooth / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D008903:Minerals; D005857:Germanium; D012825:Silicon