Abstract
In juvenile and adult Sepia officinalis (L.) of the Bassin d'Arcachon, France, the copper and iron contents of blood, hepatopancreas, branchial gland, branchial heart, branchial heart appendages, heart ventricle, and pancreatic appendages were determined by flameless atomic absorption. Despite the significant differences between the absolute values of the copper and iron concentrations in the different organs, a certain parallelism can be demonstrated in the ability to concentrate the two metals. The hepatopancreas, as the most important storage organ, shows the highest concentrations of copper and iron, followed by the branchial heart system with distinctly lower values. The cytolysosome-like dense bodies in these tissues of s. officinalis and of Octopus vulgaris (Lam.) can be characterized as the cellular sites of storage by histochemistry and electron microscopy. The low copper content of the branchial gland does not disprove the conception of a hemocyanin synthesis in this organ; biochemical experiments indicate a subsequent incorporation of copper released by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the gland.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Banauch, D.: Der Bauplan des Eisen (III)-Chelats Adenochrom aus dem Tintenfisch Octopus vulgaris, Dissertation, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken 1970
Bayer, E. und H. Fiedler: Aufbau und Spezifität des Hämocyanins. Analyt. Chem. 653, 765–781 (1962)
Bidder, A.M.: New names for old: the cephalopod “mid-gut gland”. J. Zool., Lond. 180, 441–443 (1976)
Boucaud-Camou, E.: Premières données sur l'infrastructure du foie de Sepia officinalis. Bull. Soc. zool. Fr. 97, 149–156 (1972)
Cohen, L.B. and K.E. van Holde: Physical studies of hemocyanins. II. A comparison of the hemocyanin and apohemocyanin of Loligo pealei. Biochemistry (Am. chem. Soc.); Easton, Pa. 3, 1809–1813 (1964)
Decleir, W. and A. Richard: A study of the blood proteins in Sepia officinalis with special reference to embryonic hemocyanin. Comp Biochem. Physiol. 34, 203–211 (1970)
Dilly, P.N. and J.B. Messenger: The branchial gland: a site of hemocyanin synthesis in Octopus. Z. Zellforsch. 132, 193–201 (1972)
Filshie, B.K., D.F. Poulson and D.F. Waterhouse: Ultrastructure of the copper accumulating region of the Drosophila larval midgut. Tissue Cell 3, 77–102 (1971)
Ghiretti-Magaldi, A., A. Guiditta and F. Ghiretti: Pathways of terminal respiration in marine invertebrates. I. The respiratory system in cephalopods. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 52, 389–429 (1958)
Henze, M.: Über den Kupfergehalt der Cephalopoden-Leber. Hoppe-Seyler's Z. physiol. Chem. 33, 417–425 (1901)
Martin, J.H. and A.R. Flegal: High copper concentrations in squid livers in association with elevated levels of silver, cadmium, and zinc. Mar. Biol. 30, 51–55 (1975)
Messenger, J.B., E.O. Muzii, G. Nardi and H. Steinberg: Haemocyanin synthesis and the branchial gland of Octopus. Nature, Lond. 250, 154–155 (1974)
Muzii, E.O. e C. De Marca: Localizzazione istochimica e citochimica del rame nell'epatopancreas di Octopus vulgaris Lamarck. Pubbl. Staz. zool. Napoli 38 (Suppl.), 92–101 (1970)
—, G. Nardi e H. Steinberg: Blocco della sintesi in vivo della emocianina dopo distruzione della ghiandola branchiale in Octopus vulgaris Lamarck (Cephalopoda). Boll. Zool. 41, 508–509 (1974)
Richard, A.: Biosynthèse et ontogenèse de l'hémocyanine (protéine sanguine) chez la seiche (mollusque cephalopode). J. Microscopie 17, p. 92A (1973)
Schipp, R. and S. von Boletzky: Morphology and function of the excretory organs in dibranchiate cephalopods. Fortschr. Zool. 23, 89–110 (1975)
—— and G. Doell: Ultrastructural and cytochemical investigations on the renal appendages and their concrements in dibranchiate cephalopods (Mollusca, Cephalopoda). Z. Morph. Tiere 81, 279–304 (1976)
—, P. Höhn und G. Ginkel: Elektronemikroskopische und histochemische Untersuchungen zur Funktion der Branchialdrüse (Parabranchialdrüse) der Cephalopoden. Z. Zellforsch. 139, 253–269 (1973)
—— und A. Schäfer: Elektronenmikroskopische und histochemische Untersuchungen zur Funktion des Kiemenherzanhanges (Pericardialdrüse) von Sepia officinalis. Z. Zellforsch. 117, 252–274 (1971)
— und A. Schäfer: Vergleichende elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an den zentralen Herzorganen von Cephalopoden (Sepia officinalis) — Feinstruktur und Funktion der Kiemenherzen. Z. Zellforsch. 101, 367–379 (1969)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by O. Kinne, Hamburg
This study was supported by the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft”.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schipp, R., Hevert, F. Distribution of copper and iron in some central organs of Sepia officinalis (Cephalopoda). A comparative study by flameless atomic absorption and electron microscopy. Mar. Biol. 47, 391–399 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388931
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388931