Fine structure and histochemistry of the gastric shield in the lamellibranch Donax trunculus L.

The histochemical observations performed by the authors on the stomach wall of Donax trunculus are not wholly in agreement with the results of workers on other bivalves. The ultrastructure of the gastric shield and underlying cells was therefore, studied. It was confirmed that the epithelial cells contain glycogen granules at the base. In addition two distanct P.A.S. positive inclusions were identified: lysosomal residual bodies and neutral mucopolysaccharidic inclusions. The gastric shield is composed largely of long narrow microvilli embedded in a chitinous glycocalyx but is nevertheless easily removable. Hence, there is no causal relationship between abundance of microvilli and the possibility of removing the shield.