Histochemical analysis of mucosubstances of the ventral marginal folds of mantle in Lamellidens consobrinus (Lea).

The results of the various histochemical reactions on the mucosubstances in sections fixed in calcium acetate formol indicate on the presence of mucous cells only in the inner and middle marginal folds of the mantle edge. The mucous cells secreting neutral mucosubstances are located only in the middle fold, sulfomucin secreting cells in the inner fold. The mucous cells also contain protein. The mucous cells secreting sulfated acid mucosubstances displayed negative reaction with PAS only after pepsin digestion. It is suggested that the mucous cells play some role in shell formation.