Histological And Histochemical Study Of The Mantle Of Argopecten Irradians

The microscopic anatomy and the distribution of mucous cells in the mantle of the scallop, Argopectens irradians found from Qingdao, China are described using methods of hematoxylin and Eosin Y staining, Mallory Anilin blue-Orange G staining, 1% Cresyl violet staining. The typical structure of the mantle of bivalve consisting of a middle zone and a marginal zone is observed. Three protuberances are observed in the marginal zone. There are shell protuberance, sensory protuberance and velum protuberance. The mantle is composed of inner epithelium, outer epithelium, connective tissue and muscular fiber. Mucous cells distribute in epithelium of shell protuberance, marginal zone and middle zone.Different methods are carried to study the histochemical character of the mantle. Using Hg-Bromophenol Blue reaction and Methyl green-Pyronin reaction, we can observe plenty of protein, DNA and RNA in the mantle and the mucous cell. Some methods such as Calcium and cobalt reaction, Plumbum nithrate reaction, Silver nithrate reaction and Potassium ferricyanide reaction are employed to study on the mantle of distribution of AKP and ACP, Ca and Fe.The type and distribution of mucous cell is analyzed by AB-PAS reaction. Based on the observation, the mucous cells are divided into four types:typeâ… , pure red, PAS positive and AB negative, the mucous cells include neutral mucopolysaccharide;typeâ…¡, pure blue, PAS negative and AB positive, the mucous cells include acid mucopolysaccharide; typeâ…¢, PAS positive more than AB, the mucous cell include mixed mucopolysaccharide; typeâ…£, AB positive more than PAS, the mucous cell include mixed mucopolysaccharide. The results show that four types of the mucous cells exist in the epithelium of shell protuberance and marginal zone.