Calcium transport mechanism in molting crayfish revealed by microanalysis
Crayfish provide a good model in which to study the transport mechanism of Ca ions. During the molting stage, decalcified Ca ions are transferred into the blood and accumulate in the gastrolith epithelium, after which a gastrolith is formed on the surface of the epithelium. The gastrolith is dissolved in the stomach after molting, and the Ca is reabsorbed and redistributed throughout the newly formed exoskeleton. We studied the mechanism of Ca transport by cytochemical precipitation of Ca ions and by electron microanalysis, including X-ray microanalysis (EDX) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), with a computer. In EDX analysis, the fine precipitates of K-antimonate in the gastrolith mitochondria clearly defined Ca with antimony; we also observed a large amount of Ca-oxalate in the mitochondria, and Ca-K X-ray pulses were clearly defined. Ca-K X-rays were also detected from fresh freeze-substituted mitochondria. Finally, we succeeded in taking a Ca-L EELS image from the mitochondria of fresh freeze-substituted thin sections. Only a very small amount of Ca was detected from the cell membrane and other organelles. Ca-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and Mg-ATPase activity was also very clearly demonstrated in the mitochondria. These enzymes may play an important role in Ca metabolism.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Cell Biology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
- OSTI ID:
- 5817587
- Journal Information:
- J. Histochem. Cytochem.; (United States), Vol. 31:Suppl 1A
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
USES
ATP-ASE
BLOOD
CATIONS
CELL MEMBRANES
CRUSTACEANS
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ENZYME ACTIVITY
EPITHELIUM
MITOCHONDRIA
ACID ANHYDRASES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ENZYMES
HYDROLASES
INVERTEBRATES
IONS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
MICROANALYSIS
ORGANOIDS
PHOSPHOHYDROLASES
SPECTROSCOPY
TISSUES
551000* - Physiological Systems
400103 - Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures- (-1987)