Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Morphology and morphodynamics of the stenotele nematocyst of Hydra attenuata Pall. (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria)

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

This light- and electron-microscopic study has investigated the structure, the morphodynamics of discharge, and the impact of the stenotele cyst of Hydra attenuata (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria) on the prey's integument. The triggered capsule, which is ejected from the cell, discharges its tubular content (shaft, stylets and tubule) by a process of evagination. In doing so the three joined stylets punch a hole into the cuticle of the prey through which the long evaginating tubule penetrates into the interior of the target. The behaviour of the tubule is described in detail and the functional significances of the various parts of the capsule are discussed.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

  • Campbell RD (1977) Structure of Hydra nematocysts: Geometry of the Connection between the Butt and Tubule. Trans Am Microsc Soc 96:149–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Carré D (1980) Hypothèse sur le mécanisme de l'évagination du filament urticant des cnidocystes. European Journ Cell Biol 2:265–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Carré D, Carré C (1980) On triggering and control of cnidocyst discharge. Mar Behav Physiol 7:109–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman GB (1961) The fine structure of the stenoteles of Hydra. In: Lenhoff HM, Loomis WF (eds) The Biology of Hydra. Univ Miami Press, Coral Gables, Florida, p 131–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman GB, Tilney LG (1959) Cytological studies of the nematocysts of Hydra. II. The stenoteles. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 5:79–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Cormier SM, Hessinger DA (1980) Cellular basis for tentacle adherence in the Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis). Tissue and Cell 12:713–721

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewald A (1915) Ueber den Bau, die Entladung und die Entwicklung der Nesselkapseln von Hydra und Porpita mediterranea nebst einigen histologischen Bemerkungen über die letztere Form. Verhandl Heidelb Naturk Med Verein N.F. 13:303–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser OC, Sparrow CM (1915) The physiology of nematocysts. J Exp Zool 6:361–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Holstein T (1981) The morphogenesis of nematocytes in Hydra and Forskålia: an ultrastructural study. J Ultrastr Res 75:276–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Holstein T (1980) An ultrastructural and kinematographic study of the nematocyst morphogenesis in selected coelenterate species. In: Tardent P, Tardent R (eds) Developmental and cellular biology of coelenterates. Elsevier North Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam New York Oxford, p 313–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones CS (1947) The control and discharge of nematocysts in Hydra. J Exp Zool 105:25–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Kline ES (1961) Chemistry of nematocyst capsule and toxin of Hydra littoralis. In: Lenhoff HM, Loomis WF (eds) The biology of Hydra. Univ Miami Press, Coral Gables, Florida, p 153–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Kline ES, Waravdekar VS (1959) Toxic effects of a material isolated from Hydra littoralis. Am Soc Pharmacol Exp Ther 1:62

    Google Scholar 

  • Kline ES, Waravdekar VS (1960) Inhibitor of succinoxidase activity from Hydra littoralis. J Biol Chem 235:1803–1808

    Google Scholar 

  • Lentz TL (1966) The cell biology of Hydra. North-Holland Publ Co, Amsterdam, p 1–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Loomis WF, Lenhoff HM (1956) Growth and sexual differentiation of Hydra in mass culture. J Exp Zool 132:555–574

    Google Scholar 

  • Lubbock R, Amos WB (1981) Removal of bound calcium from nematocyst content causes discharge. Nature 290:500–501

    Google Scholar 

  • Lubbock R, Gupta BL, Hall TA (1981) Novel role of calcium in exocytosis: Mechanism of nematocyst discharge as shown by X-ray microanalysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 78:3624–3628

    Google Scholar 

  • Mariscal RN (1974) Nematocysts. In: Muscatine L, Lenhoff HM (eds) Coelenterate biology. Academic Press Inc, New York San Francisco London, p 129–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Mascorro JA, Ladd HW, Yates RD (1976) Rapid infiltration of biological tissue utilizing n-hexenyl succinic anhydride (HXSA)/vinyl cyclohexene dioxide (VCD), an ultra-low viscosity embedding medium. 34th Ann Proc EMSA p 346–347

  • Mattern LFT, Park HD, Daniel WA (1965) Electron microscope observations on the structure and discharge of the stenotele of Hydra. J Cell Biol 27:621–638

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller JF (1950) Some observations on the structure of hydra with particular reference to the muscular system. Trans Am Microsc Soc 69:133–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Picken LER (1953) A note on the nematocysts of Corynactis viridis. Quart J Micr Sci 94:203–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Picken LER (1957) Stinging capsules and designing nature. New Biol 22:56–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Picken LER, Skaer RJ (1966) A review of researches on nematocysts. In: Rees WJ (ed) The Cnidaria and their evolution. Symp Zool Soc London 16: pp19–50

  • Rathmayer W, Jessen B (1975) Effect of toxins of sea anemones on neuromuscular transmission. Naturwissenschaften 62:538

    Google Scholar 

  • Reisinger E (1937) Der Entladungsvorgang der Nesselkapseln. Zool Anz Suppl 10:311–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds ES (1963) The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17:208–210

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rich F, Tardent P (1969) Untersuchungen zur Nematocytendifferenzierung bei Hydra altenuata. Rev Suisse Zool 76:779–787

    Google Scholar 

  • Robson EA (1953) Nematocysts of Corynactis: The activity of the filament during discharge. Quart J Microsc Sci NS 94:229–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Sato T (1967) A modified method for lead staining of thin sections. J Electronmicr 16:133–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider KC (1900) Mittheilungen über Siphonophoren. V. Nesselzellen. Arb Zool Inst Wien 12:1–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulze P (1922) Der Bau und die Entladung der Penetranten bei Hydra attenuata. Arch Zellforsch 16:383–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Slautterback DB (1961) Nematocyst development. In: Lenhoff HM, Loomis WF (eds) Univ Miami Press Coral Gables, Florida, p 77–129

  • Slautterback DB, Fawcett DW (1959) The development of the cnidoblast in Hydra. An electron microscope study of cell differentiation. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 5:441–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Spurr AR (1969) A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J Ultrastr Res 26:31–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Tardent P, Honegger Th, Baenninger R (1980) About the function of stenoteles in Hydra attenuata Pall. In: Tardent P, Tardent R (eds) Developmental and cellular biology of coelenterates. Elsevier North Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam New York Oxford, p 331–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Toppe O (1910) Untersuchungen über Bau und Funktion der Nesselzellen der Cnidaria. Teil I. Der feinere Bau der Nesselzellen sowie systematische Beiträge zur Kenntnis des Genus Hydra. Zool Jahrb (Morph) 29:191–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber G, Honegger Th, Tardent P (1978) Neuorientierung der Nesselwanderung bei Hydra attenuata Pall durch transplantierte Tentakel. Rev Suisse Zool 85:768–774

    Google Scholar 

  • Weill R (1930) Essai d'une classification des nématocystes des Cnidaires. Bull Biol France Beige 64:141–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner B (1965) Nesselkapseln der Cnidaria mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Hydroida. Helgoländer wiss Meeresunters 12:1–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Westfall J (1965) The morphology and development of nematocysts and associated structures in the Cnidaria. PhD Thesis Univ, California, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Westfall J (1970) The nematocyte complex in a Hydromedusa Gonionemus vertens. Z Zellforsch 110:457–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Will L (1919) Die Volumenreduktion der Nesselkapseln bei der Explosion und infolge “Alterns”. Anat Hefte 57:483–553

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanagita TM (1960) Physiological mechanisms of nematocyst response in sea anemone. III excitation and anaesthetization of the nettling response. Comp Biochem Physiol 1:123–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanagita TM (1973) The “cnidoblast” as an excitable system. Publ Seto Mar Biol Lab 20:675–693

    Google Scholar 

  • Zumstein A (1973) Regulation der Nematocyten-Produktion bei Hydra attenuata Pall. With Roux's Arch 173:294–318

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Zürich-Irchel, Zürich, Switzerland

    Pierre Tardent & Thomas Holstein

Authors
  1. Pierre Tardent
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas Holstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant 3.317-0.78). The authors wish to acknowledge gratefully the technical help of Mrs. R. Baenninger, Miss C. Völzke and Mr. U. Jauch. They are also indebted to Dr. P. Späth (Blutspendedienst SRK) who introduced them to the use of Na-alginate

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tardent, P., Holstein, T. Morphology and morphodynamics of the stenotele nematocyst of Hydra attenuata Pall. (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria). Cell Tissue Res. 224, 269–290 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216873

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216873

Key words

Search

Navigation