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The accumulation of ferric iron in the guts of some spatangoid echinoderms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

J. B. Buchanan ,
B. E. Brown ,
T. L. Coombs ,
B. J. S. Pirie  and
J. A. Allen
J. B. Buchanan
Affiliation:
Dove Marine Laboratory, Cullercoats, North Shields, Tyne and Wear
B. E. Brown
Affiliation:
Dove Marine Laboratory, Cullercoats, North Shields, Tyne and Wear
T. L. Coombs
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Biochemistry, Aberdeen, Scotland
B. J. S. Pirie
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Biochemistry, Aberdeen, Scotland
J. A. Allen
Affiliation:
University Marine Biological Laboratories, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland
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Extract

The connective tissue layer of the large intestines of Brissopsis and Echinocardium spp. is shown to contain a massive quantity of ferric iron in the form of ferric phosphate. The ferric phosphate is present as a granular extracellular deposit. In large mature specimens of Brissopsis, the weight of iron present may account for almost 30% of the dry weight of large intestinal tissue. The iron deposit appears to be cumulative with age. It is speculated that the deposit is derived from oxidative deposition of a soluble ferrous salt ingested in reducing conditions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 60 , Issue 3 , August 1980 , pp. 631 - 640
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1980

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