title: Sterile polystyrene culture dishes induce transformation of polyps into medusae in Aurelia aurita (Scyphozoa, Cnidaria).
abstract: Polyps of Aurelia aurita produce medusae once a year. Under laboratory conditions this process, termed strobilation, can be induced by lowering the incubation temperature for about two weeks. Here we report a fast induction of strobilation by sterile polystyrene culture dishes. The effect is abolished when the culture dishes are washed twice with hot water prior to the experiment. We recommend that polystyrene cultureware should be pre-washed whenever there is an indication of unusual effects.
authors.affiliation: Zoological Institute, University of Cologne, Weyertal 119, D-50923 Cologne, Germany. k.herrmann@uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siefker
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berking
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000502:physiology*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D037401:Scyphozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes