Skip to main content
Log in

Tentacle morphogenesis in hydra

I. The morphological effect of actinomycin D

  • Published:
Wilhelm Roux' Archiv für Entwicklungsmechanik der Organismen Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Hydra oligactis exposed to 3 μg/ml actinomycin D for 24 hours regenerated only the first pair of tentacles (the mid-laterals). If left uncut, actinomycin D treated animals underwent a reduction of the normal number of tentacles to two or less.

Inductive activity was retained in the 2-tentacled hypostomes. However, the tentacles present exhibited reduced capacities to capture and manipulate prey.

Histological studies showed that the tentacles of actinomycin D treated hydra were morphologically identical to those of the controls. The interstitial cell (I-cell) population of the treated animals, however, became depleted. Replacing the hypostome of an actinomycin D treated hydra with a normal hypostome reversed the cellular effects of actinomycin D treatment.

The modifications in tentacle morphogenesis occurring after actinomycin D treatment are consistent with an impairment of hypostomal function in the animal. It is suggested that the morphological site of this malfunction may be in the nervous system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ansevin, K., Wimberly, M.: Modification of regeneration inDugesia tigrina by actinomycin D. J. exp. Zool.172, 349–362 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Baird, R., Burnett, A. L.: Observations on the discovery of a dorsoventral axis in Hydra. J. Embryol. exp. Morph.17, 35–81 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brien, P.: La croissance, la blastogénèse, l'ovogénèse chezHydra fusca (Pallas). Bull. biol. France Belg.82, 293–386 (1949).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brien, P.: La pérennité somatique. Biol. Rev.28, 308–349 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne, E.: The production of new hydranths by the insertion of small grafts. J. exp. Zool.7, 1–23 (1909).

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnett, A.: Histophysiology of growth in hydra. J. exp. Zool.140, 281–342 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnett, A.: The growth process in Hydra. J. exp. Zool.146, 21–84 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnett, A.: A model of growth and cell differentiation in hydra. Amer. Naturalist100, 165–190 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnett, A., Diehl, N.: The nervous system of hydra. I. Types, distribution and origin of nerve elements. J. exp. Zool.157, 217–226 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, R.: Tissue dynamics of steady state growth inHydra littoralis. I. Patterns of cell division. Develop. Biol.15, 487–502 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, B.: The histology of inhibition of limb regeneration in the newt, Triturus, by actinomycin D. J. Morph.122, 249–264 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, B.: Inhibition of limb regeneration in the axolotyl after treatment of the skin with actinomycin D. Anat. Rec.163, 389–402 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalkley, H. W., Park, H.: Methods for increasing the hydra as material in teaching research. Science105, 553 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  • Child, C. M.: Oxidation and reduction of indicators by hydra. J. exp. Zool.104, 153–195 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson, S. G.: Nucleic acid and protein synthesis and pattern regulation in hydra. II. Effect of inhibition of nucleic acid and protein synthesis on hypostome formation. J. Embryol. exp. Morph.21, 55–70 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, L., Burnett, A., Haynes, J.: Histological and ultrastructural study of the muscular and nervous system inHydra. II. Nervous system. J. exp. Zool.167, 295–332 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Diehl, F., Burnett, A.: The role of interstitial cells in the maintenance of hydra. I. Specific destruction of interstitial cells in normal, asexual, non-budding animals. J. exp. Zool.155, 253–260 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Diehl, F., Burnett, A.: The role of interstitial cells in the maintenance of hydra. III. Regeneration of hypostome and tentacles. J. exp. Zool.158, 299–318 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, I., Reich, E.: Actinomycin inhibition of RNA synthesis directed by DNA. Fed. Proc.23, 958–964 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross, P., Cousineau, G.: Macromolecule synthesis and the influence of actinomycin on early development. Exp. Cell Res.33, 368–395 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyman, L.: Miscellaneous observations on hydra with special reference to reproduction. Biol. Bull.54, 65–108 (1928).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanaev, I. I.: Hydra. Edit. by H. Lenhoff. Originally published by the Soviet Acad. Sci. (Moscow) 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kass-Simon, G.: The regeneration gradients and the effects of budding, feeding, actinomycin and RNase on reconstitution inHydra attenuata Pall. Rev. suisse Zool.76, 565–599 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiefer, B., Entelis, P., Infante, A.: Mitotic abnormalities in sea urchin embryos exposed to Dactinomycin. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)64, 857–862 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lentz, T.: Hydra: Induction of supernumerary heads by isolated neurosecretory granules. Science150, 633–635 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lentz, T.: The cell biology of hydra. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ. Co. 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesh, G.: A role of inductive factors in interstitial cell differentiation in hydra. J. exp. Zool.173, 371–382 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesh, G., Burnett, A.: An analysis of the chemical control of polarized form in hydra. J. exp. Zool.163, 55–78 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Loomis, W. F., Lenhoff, H.: Growth and sexual differentiation of hydra in mass culture. J. exp. Zool.132, 555–573 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mookerjee, S., Bhattacherjee, S.: Cellular mechanics in hydroid regeneration. Wilhelm Roux' Arch. Entwickl.-Mech. Org.157, 1–20 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pannbacker, R. G., Wright, B.: The effect of actinomycin D on development in the cellular slime mold. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun.24, 334–339 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Reich, E., Franklin, R. M., Shatken, A. J., Tatum, E.: Action of actinomycin D on animal cells and viruses. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)48, 1238–1245 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Reich, E., Goldberg, I. H.: Actinomycin and nucleic acid function. Prog. nucl. acid Res.3, 183–234 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rulon, O., Child, C.: Observations and experiments on developmental pattern in Pelmatohydra oligactis. Physiol. Zool.10, 1–13 (1937).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rushforth, N. B.: Behavioral studies of the coelenterateHydra pirardi Brien. Anim. Behav., Suppl. 1, 30–42 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Saffitz, J., Burnett, A., Lesh, G.: Nervous system transplantation in hydra. J. exp. Zool. (1972) (in press).

  • Schluederberg, A., Hendel, R., Chavanich, S.: Actinomycin D: Renewal of RNA synthesis after removal from mammalian cells. Science172, 577–579 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Slautterback, D. B., Fawcett, D.: The development of the cnidoblasts of hydra. An electron microscope study of cell differentiation. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. (J. Cell Biol.)5, 441–452 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tardent, P., Rich, F., Schneider, V.: The polarity of stenothele differentiation inHydra attenuata Pall. Develop. Biol.24, 596–608 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Waring, M.: Drugs which affect the structure and function of DNA. Nature (Lond.)219, 1320–1325 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster, G., Wolpert, L.: Studies on pattern regulation in hydra. I. Regional differences in time required for hypostome determination. J. Embryol. exp. Morph.16, 91–104 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel, G.: Transplantationsversuche mit Hydra. Arch. mikr. Anat.45, 273–294 (1895).

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitson, G. L.: The effects of actinomycin D and ribonuclease on oral regeneration inStentor coeruleus. J. exp. Zool.160, 207–214 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Znidaric, D.: Comparison of the regeneration of the hypostome with the budding process inHydra littoralis. Wilhelm Roux' Archiv Entwick.-Mech. Org.166, 45–53 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Research supported by American Cancer Society Institutional Grant No. 342-9157, USPHS Institutional Grant No. 342-9241 and by a grant from Research Corporation.

Part of this work was completed while L.H. was an undergraduate research student supported by the National Science Foundation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lesh-Laurie, G.E., Hang, L. Tentacle morphogenesis in hydra. W. Roux' Archiv f. Entwicklungsmechanik 169, 314–334 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580252

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580252

Keywords

Navigation