Hemocyte-Mediated Shell Mineralization in the Eastern Oyster

The growth of molluscan shell crystals is usually thought to be initiated from solution by extracellular organic matrix. We report a class of granulocytic hemocytes that may be directly involved in shell crystal production for oysters. On the basis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray microanalysis, these granulocytes contain calcium carbonate crystals, and they increase in abundance relative to other hemocytes following experimentally induced shell regeneration. Hemocytes are observed at the mineralization front using vital fluorescent staining and SEM. Some cells are observed releasing crystals that are subsequently remodeled, thereby at least augmenting matrix-mediated crystal-forming processes in this system.

[1]  E. Gosling.  Bivalve Molluscs: Biology, Ecology and Culture , 2003 .

[2]  Joanna Aizenberg,et al.  Direct Fabrication of Large Micropatterned Single Crystals , 2003, Science.

[3]  C. Schander,et al.  Discrimination and phylogeny of solenogaster species through the morphology of hard parts (Mollusca, Aplacophora, Neomeniomorpha). , 2000, The Biological bulletin.

[4]  A. Mount,et al.  Nucleation and growth of calcite on native versus pyrolyzed oyster shell folia. , 2000, The Biological bulletin.

[5]  P. Hine,et al.  The inter-relationships of bivalve haemocytes , 1999 .

[6]  V. Kennedy,et al.  The Eastern Oyster: Crassostrea Virginica , 1996 .

[7]  Craig B. Thompson,et al.  Hierarchical Control of Lymphocyte Survival , 1996, Science.

[8]  X. H. Wu,et al.  Control of crystal phase switching and orientation by soluble mollusc-shell proteins , 1996, Nature.

[9]  S. Weiner,et al.  Control of Aragonite or Calcite Polymorphism by Mollusk Shell Macromolecules , 1996, Science.

[10]  A. Scheltema.  Aplacophora as Progenetic Aculiferans and the Coelomate Origin of Mollusks as the Sister Taxon of Sipuncula. , 1993, The Biological bulletin.

[11]  E. Bonucci.  Calcification in Biological Systems , 1992 .

[12]  M. G. McCormick-Ray,et al.  Morphology and mobility of oyster hemocytes: evidence for seasonal variations. , 1991, Journal of invertebrate pathology.

[13]  Stephen Mann,et al.  Controlled crystallization of CaCO3 under stearic acid monolayers , 1988, Nature.

[14]  S. Weiner,et al.  A chemical model for the cooperation of sulfates and carboxylates in calcite crystal nucleation: Relevance to biomineralization. , 1987, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[15]  Douglas C. Wilson,et al.  Ionotropic Nucleation of Calcium Carbonate by Molluscan Matrix , 1984 .

[16]  C. Bayne,et al.  Invertebrate blood cells , 1983 .

[17]  P. Blackwelder,et al.  SHELL GROWTH IN THE SCALLOP ARGOPECTEN IRRADIANS. I. ISOTOPE INCORPORATION WITH REFERENCE TO DIURNAL GROWTH. , 1975, The Biological bulletin.

[18]  M. Crenshaw.  THE INORGANIC COMPOSITION OF MOLLUSCAN EXTRAPALLIAL FLUID. , 1972, The Biological bulletin.

[19]  L. H. Jodrey.  STUDIES ON SHELL FORMATION. III. MEASUREMENT OF CALCIUM DEPOSITION IN SHELL AND CALCIUM TURNOVER IN MANTLE TISSUE USING THE MANTLE-SHELL PREPARATION AND Ca45 , , 1953 .

[20]  K. Wilbur,et al.  STUDIES ON SHELL FORMATION. I. MEASUREMENT OF THE RATE OF SHELL FORMATION USING Ca45 , 1952 .

[21]  D. Littlewood,et al.  Cellular responses of oysters infected with Haplosporidium nelsoni: changes in circulating and tissue-infiltrating hemocytes. , 1993, Journal of invertebrate pathology.

[22]  K. Simkiss,et al.  Biomineralization : cell biology and mineral deposition , 1989 .

[23]  C. Yonge,et al.  Physiology of Mollusca , 1964 .