User:Sampieper/Hypobranchial gland

Gastropods
This is in association with parts of the aquatic mollusk anatomy that perform sediment consolidation in these organisms. However, this gland is absent in all terrestrial gastropods except the Neritacea.

Glands with similar functions are present in the Nuculidae, Solenomyidae, Monia, Patellacea, and Loritcata.

In the Haliotidae, this gland has two lobes in the roof of the mantle cavity with the left larger than the right. It is deeply ridges and secretes mucus. The purpose of the mucus is to trap, collect, and excrete sediment that collects as water flows over the gills of these organisms.

Bacterial Community
In a study done on individuals from the species Dicathais orbita, a member of the Muricidae family, it was found that the bacterial community of the hypobranchial gland was highly specialized; The community was dominated by two genera: Mycoplasma and Vibrio, which are known to contain biosynthetic species. These bacterial communities were compared to the foot of the individuals which had a larger variety of bacterial inhabitants.

Toxins
Some extracts from the hypobranchial gland have shown some toxic effects on human granulosa cells, cells inside the ovaries of woman. These extracts can affect the hormone production of the reproductive system. As for all toxins, the effect is dependent on the dose and length of exposure to these extracts.

Tyrian Purple
This dye has potential origins in history as early as 2000 BC in some areas of Europe and Asia. Due to the expensive process of dying fabrics with the hypobranchial grands of mollusks, Tyrian purple dyed fabrics were considered a symbol of wealth and royalty throughout much of history. It is synthesized from the dye precursor 6-6 dibromoindigo.

Medical Applications
There are some potential medical applications for the hypobranchial glands of mollusks ranging from anti-inflammatories, to anti-bacterials, to cancer. Some of these uses were found by analyzing traditional medicine and therapeutic techniques from a variety of different cultures. In Ancient Greece, extracts from this gland were used as laxatives and diuretics with the potential for some side effects including increases in sweat and saliva productions.

Anti-bacterial Uses

 * MeOH (Methanol) inhibited marine biofilm growth
 * DCM (Dichloromethane) inhibited marine biofilm growth
 * (CH₃)₂CO (Acetone) inhibited marine biofilm growth

Other extracts from the hemolymph of these mollusks have been shown to inhibit the growth of human pathogens.

Anti-inflammatory uses

 * In lab cell lines and various animal models, extracts from the hypobranchial gland have shown a variety of muscle relaxing properties including the ability to act as a neuromuscular block, an anticonvulsant, a pain killer, and a sedative.

Cancer Treatments

 * Chloroform extracts can inhibit the growth of lymphoma (cancer of the lung), reproductive system cancers, and colon cancer.
 * A pigment in Tyrian purple, 6-dibromoindirubin, may slow the spread of a variety of cancers including lung, stomach, colon, abdominal, and leukaemia cancers.
 * Extracts from the glands of Hexaplex trunculus showed possible adhesion inhibition of cervical and glioblastoma cells, which can decrease the frequency of tumor formation.