title: Glycoconjugate histochemistry and nNOS immunolocalization in the mantle and foot epithelia of Tapes philippinarum (bivalve mollusc).
abstract: Glycosaminoglycans and NO synthase probably regulate mucous cell secretion in the skin of Tapes philippinarum. We have demonstrated the presence of "protein" cells, "glycogen" cells, "phenol" cells and five types of mucous cells, with different chemical composition of the mucus in the mantle epithelium of T. philippinarum. The foot epithelium contained "protein" cells and two types of mucous cells. Using biotinylated lectins, in the mantle and foot epithelia we have shown specific sites for the following oligosaccharides: alpha-D-glucose, alpha-D-mannose, alpha-L-fucose, alpha-D-1,3-N-acetyl-galactosamine and alpha-N-acetyl-glucosamine. nNOS immunoreactivity in the intraepithelial and intradermal cells and in the mucocytes suggested a regulatory role of NO in mucus secretion, as demonstrated also in other invertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Marine Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calabro
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Albanese
authors.forename: Silvestro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martella
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Licata
authors.forename: Eugenia Rita
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Lauriano
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertuccio
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Licata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology*; D005121:Extremities / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis; D008974:Mollusca / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: D006001:Glycoconjugates; D037102:Lectins; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I