Ionic gradients within mantle-collar epithelial cells of the land snail Otala lactea

Aestivating Otala lactea have been shown to reduce the rate of evaporative water loss from the cells of the mantle-collar epithelium to a level comparable to that of an insect. X-ray microanalyses of ultrathin frozen sections from aestivating and non-aestivating snails have shown gradients of chloride and potassium ions in the apical microvillus region of the regulating mantle collar epithelium. The greatest difference in osmotic concentration occurs in the apical 2 micron of the cell. There appears to be a barrier at that level that prevents water being mobilised from the underlying tissues. Methods of presenting data generated by X-ray microanalysis are also discussed.