EFFECT OF LIGHT AND NUTRIENT RESTRICTION ON THE METABOLISM OF CALCIUMAND VITAMIN-D IN LAND SNAILS

Biomineralization in invertebrates, such as land snails, may serve as an excellent experimental model for understanding processes of skeleta l calcification in higher organisms, the vertebrates. In the present s tudy, the influence of nutrient and light restrictions on the calcific ation of the shell in land snails was investigated. It was found that nutrient and light restrictions led to an increase in weight and miner al content of shells. These events were accompanied by changes in the metabolism of vitamin D. The molluscan metabolite E was found to accel erate transfer of Ca-45 from mantle to shell. On the basis of these fi ndings it is suggested that in land snails adaptation to environmental changes such as light and nutritional restrictions is mediated by the vitamin D endocrine system. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.