Aluminium chloride injected in the snail Helix pomatia L. decreases the weights and calcium contents of shell-repair membranes

Abstract

1. Aluminium (Al) was found to affect the process of shell-repair in the snail Helix pomatia L. The mean weights (MMWs) and calcium contents (MCCs) of the shell-repair membranes were decreased following injections of AlCl 3. 2. Repeated injury to the shell, without further Al-injections, resulted in increased MMWs and MCCs in snails injected with 10 and 50 mM Al, but not in animals receiving 100 mM. Following a longer period without injury, new damage resulted in membranes without differences between controls and treated animals. 3. Snails injected with 10 mM AlCl3 had ratios between MCCs and MMWs which were no different from the controls. The animals receiving the higher Al-concentrations did exhibit a decrease in this ratio. This implies that two mechanisms are involved; one affecting the synthesis of the organic matrix of the repair membrane and one in the subsequent mineralization of the matrix is inhibited.