Hypobranchial gland
Encyclopedia
The hypobranchial gland
is a glandular
structure which is part of the anatomy of many mollusks, including different families of gastropods, and protobranch bivalves
. This gland produces mucus and biologically active compounds.
The hypobranchial gland is found in many sea snail
s, including those in the families Haliotidae, Buccinidae
, Mitridae
and Costellariidae
. It usually presents itself as a thickening of the tissue located in the roof of the animal's mantle cavity
. Its morphology, however, is variable between different groups of snails.
, because in those species the gland secretes the precursor to the historically important natural dye
, Tyrian purple
. It is thought that the compounds in hypobranchial secretions may have interesting pharmacological properties.
Hypobranchial gland
The hypobranchial gland is a glandular structure which is part of the anatomy of many mollusks, including different families of gastropods, and protobranch bivalves...
is a glandular
Gland
A gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release of substances such as hormones or breast milk, often into the bloodstream or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface .- Types :...
structure which is part of the anatomy of many mollusks, including different families of gastropods, and protobranch bivalves
Bivalvia
Bivalvia is a taxonomic class of marine and freshwater molluscs. This class includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, and many other families of molluscs that have two hinged shells...
. This gland produces mucus and biologically active compounds.
Anatomy and function
GastropodsThe hypobranchial gland is found in many sea snail
Sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for those snails that normally live in saltwater, marine gastropod molluscs....
s, including those in the families Haliotidae, Buccinidae
Buccinidae
Buccinidae is a very large and diverse taxonomic family of large sea snails, often known as whelks or true whelks.True whelks are mostly marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Neogastropoda...
, Mitridae
Mitridae
Mitridae, known as mitre shells, are a taxonomic family of sea snails, widely distributed marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Neogastropoda....
and Costellariidae
Costellariidae
Costellariidae sometimes called the "ribbed miters" is a taxonomic family of minute to medium-sized predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. This family of snails is also sometimes referred to as Vexillum miters...
. It usually presents itself as a thickening of the tissue located in the roof of the animal's mantle cavity
Mantle (mollusc)
The mantle is a significant part of the anatomy of molluscs: it is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass and usually protrudes in the form of flaps well beyond the visceral mass itself.In many, but by no means all, species of molluscs, the epidermis of the mantle secretes...
. Its morphology, however, is variable between different groups of snails.
Human use
There have been studies on some species within the family MuricidaeMuricidae
Muricidae, common name murex snails or rock snails, is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails. With approximately 1,600 living species the Muricidae represent almost 10% of the Neogastropoda. Additionally, 1,200 fossil species have been recognised...
, because in those species the gland secretes the precursor to the historically important natural dye
Natural dye
Natural dyes are dyes or colorants derived from plants, invertebrates, or minerals. The majority of natural dyes are vegetable dyes from plant sources – roots, berries, bark, leaves, and wood — and other organic sources such as fungi and lichens....
, Tyrian purple
Tyrian purple
Tyrian purple , also known as royal purple, imperial purple or imperial dye, is a purple-red natural dye, which is extracted from sea snails, and which was possibly first produced by the ancient Phoenicians...
. It is thought that the compounds in hypobranchial secretions may have interesting pharmacological properties.
Litterature cited
- Fretter, V. & Graham, A. 1962. British Prosobranch Molluscs. 1st ed. London: The Ray Society, 755 pp.
- Westley, C., Lewis, M. C. and Benkendorff, K. 2010. Histomorphology of the hypobranchial gland in Dicanthais orbita (Gmelin, 1791) (Neogastropoda: Muricidae). Journal of Molluscan StudiesJournal of Molluscan StudiesThe Journal of Molluscan Studies is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research in malacology.Previous names of this journal include Proceedings of the Malacological Society, Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London The Journal of Molluscan Studies is a peer-reviewed scientific...
76(2): 186–195.
- The hypobranchial gland from the purple snail Plicopurpura pansaPlicopurpura pansaPlicopurpura pansa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails....
(Gould, 1853) (Prosobranchia: Murididae). Journal of Shellfish Research, August 1, 2006 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+hypobranchial+gland+from+the+purple+snail+Plicopurpura+pansa...-a0151200881
- Pontarotti, P. 2010. Evolutionary Biology: Concepts, Molecular and Morphological Evolutionhttp://books.google.com/books?id=Wn0Mh1Pl1B4C&pg=PA260&lpg=PA260&dq=hypobranchial+gland&source=bl&ots=qenUg9v8OU&sig=USKKIEZ7NnLBxkdJhs0WY7MhCzc&hl=en&ei=CeGFTs2SOI_RiAKIsKC0DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFcQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=hypobranchial%20gland&f=false. Springer, 363 pp.