1909 



Wainwright, Stephen A. 1969. 



Stress and design in bivalved mollusc shells. Nature 224(5220): 776-779. 



Mereenaria mereenaria is not mentioned. - J.L.M. 



1910 



Wait, R. B. 1943. 



The action of acetylcholine on the isolated heart of Venus mereenaria. Biol. 

 Bull. 85 (1) : 79-85. 



Purpose of the study was to test the idea of using Venus heart to determine 

 the acetylcholine (ACh) content of tissues, when only small amounts were 

 available. Heart of Venus was already known to be extraordinarily sensitive 

 to ACh. The concentration-action curve is a hyperbola, and it is difficult 

 to record beats of small amplitude, therefore ACh values can be determined 

 most accurately when concentrations are such as to produce between 20 and 80% 

 decrease in amplitude. Temp control is important. A heart relatively 

 insensitive to ACh at 25 to 30°C becomes 100 times as sensitive at 5 to 10°C. 

 Midway in this range of temp heart will beat with satisfactory amplitude and 

 frequency for 12 to 24 hrs. - J.L.M. 



1911 



Waite, J. Herbert. 1977. 



Evidence for the mode of sclerotization in a molluscan periostracum. 

 Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 58B(2): 157-162. 



Describes the process in Geukensia (Modiolus ) demissa. Mercenaries 

 mereenaria is not mentioned. - J.L.M. and M.W.S. 



1912 



Wakefield, Harold F. 1964. 



Adhesives, technology and marine organisms. In Symposium on Experimental 

 Marine Ecology. Grad. School Oceanogr. , Univ. R.I., Narragansett Mar. Lab., 

 Occ. Pub. 2: 51-58. 



The work started with questions about the mechanism of adhesion of adductor 

 muscle to the shell of Mereenaria mereenaria. Study of adhesive joints in 

 living animals must use a different set of rules and standards than in 

 industrial adhesive technology. Substrates are a composite made up of 

 inorganic crystals cemented together mainly by an organic adhesive, which 

 seems to be a precursor of collagen laid down as a liquid with subsequent 

 hardening. Exact compositions should be determined and curing mechanisms 

 should be investigated, for industrial applications. The concept of a 

 suction-cup mechanism by which some mollusks may attach to solid surfaces 

 is not necessary. The author believed that attachment to the substrate could 

 be explained by the adhesive technologist's concepts of "tack". The paper 

 contains a useful review of adhesion in bivalve shells, composition of shell, 

 shell repair, composition and strength of adductor muscle, the "catch" or 

 "clutch" mechanism, biochemical mechanics of muscle structure and activity, 

 characteristics of hinge and ligament, and byssus attachment. - J.L.M. 



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