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The ultrastructure of the byssal apparatus of Mytilus galloprovincialis

IV. Observations by transmission electron microscopy

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Summary

The ultrastructure of the byssus of Mytilus galloprovincialis was analysed by transmission electron microscopy in thin sections of either embedded or frozen samples. All parts of the byssus (stem core laminae, stem outer laminae, threads proximal and distal parts) appear to be formed by the same basic filamentous components organized in different ways at the submicroscopic level and embedded in a variable quantity of matrix. The filaments appear to consist of a central electron-lucent zone (3 nm in diameter), surrounded by an electron-dense rim (total diameter 7 nm). The matrix has a granular or microfilamentous structure. The stem and the threads differ greatly in their submicroscopic organization, but their basic constituents (filaments and matrix) are similar. Peculiar filamentous banded elements (FBE) were found mainly in the stem outer laminae. A relation between the ultrastructure and mechanical properties of the different parts of the byssus was established. The presence of collagen is discussed; since no morphological evidence of any of the known forms of collagen organization was revealed by electron microscopy, it is suggested that byssus collagen may be localized in the matrix and in the FBE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Istologia ed Embriologia e Istituto Anatomico della Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy

    Aurelio Bairati & L. Vitellaro Zuccarello

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  1. Aurelio Bairati
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  2. L. Vitellaro Zuccarello
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Additional information

This work was supported by a grant from Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche — Roma.

The authors are indebted to Dr. G. Gabella (Dept. Anatomy University College London) for reading the manuscript.

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Bairati, A., Vitellaro Zuccarello, L. The ultrastructure of the byssal apparatus of Mytilus galloprovincialis . Cell Tissue Res. 166, 219–234 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00227043

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00227043

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