Elektronenmikroskopische und histochemische Untersuchungen zur Funktion des Kiemenherzanhanges (Pericardialdr�se) von Sepia officinalis

Lysozyme and antiprotease activity in the lesser octopus Eledone cirrhosa (Lam.) (Cephalopoda)

Antiprotease and lysozyme activities were detected in various tissue samples including the haemocytes and haemolymph of Eledone cirrhosa. Injection of live Vibrio anguillarum caused an increase in lysozyme activity in the branchial heart over 48 hours and a decrease in the lysozyme activity of haemocytes over 24 hours. Haemocytes from control PBS injected animals demonstrated increased lysozyme levels 4 hours after injection whereas it decreased after the injection of live bacteria in PBS. The lysozyme activity of the haemolymph was not affected by these procedures. Bacteria injections had no effect on the antiprotease activity of the organ samples but increased the antiprotease activity of the haemocytes compared to controls in the 4 h samples. Haemolymph antiprotease activity decreased at a greater rate following bacteria injection than in control PBS injected animals. Haemocyte numbers/ml increased for both the control and bacteria injected animals with a greater increase demonstrated for the bacteria injected animals in the 4 h sample. Concomittant with the increase in the numbers of circulating haemocytes live V. anguillarum were cleared from the circulation of E. cirrhosa in less than 4 hours.

Adenosine triphosphatase localization in the branchial heart appendage of Sepia officinalis L. (Cephalopoda)

Sodium- and potassium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Na+--K+-ATPase) has been demonstrated in the branchial heart appendage (pericardial gland) of Sepia officinalis L. by biochemical, cytochemical and autoradiographical methods. The biochemical data indicate the presence of Na+--K+-ATPase, judging from the potassium dependency and, with some restrictions, the inhibition by ouabain. Cytochemically and autoradiographically, the enzyme could be localized on the cytoplasmic surfaces of the lateral plasma membranes and the basal membrane infoldings (basal labyrinth) of the folded epithelium of the branchial heart appendage. The pdocytes of the peripheral zone of the organ reacted negatively. In addition to the Na+--K+-ATPase, a magnesium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Mg2+-ATPase) was demonstrated in the folded epithelium, localized mainly in the mitochondria but also at the brush border and in the apical intercellular space, whereas a bicarbonate-stimulated ATPase (HCO-3-ATPase) was present only in the mitochondria.

The localization of enzyme activities in the pancreatic appendages of Sepia officinalis L. (Cephalopoda)

In this study, enzyme activities of the pancreatic appendages of the ductus hepatoPancreas (the so-called "pancreas") in Sepia officinalis L. have been demonstrated by light and electron micicroscopical methods: Malate dehydrogenase, monoamine oxidase, acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, adenosine triphosphatase and carbonic anhydrase were shown by the former, and monoamine oxidase, catalase, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, choline esterase (non-specific), alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and carbonic anhydrase by the latter technique. The correlation between enzyme activity and distribution, and the presumed function of the two pancreatic epithelia is discussed.