title: Effect of mono- and divalent cations on polyp morphogenesis in isolated tentacles of Aurelia aurita(Scyphozoa).
abstract: Tentacles excised from syphistoma polyps of Aurelia aurita undergo rapid regeneration to form whole polyps following exposure to an excess or absence of specific ions. It has been shown that a 12-18 h exposure of isolated tentacles to 58 mM excess of Cs+results in a rapid firing of nematocysts, followed by an accelerated, synchronous polyp morphogenesis. Absence of Mgt2+from the culture solution for 4-24 h also led to an accelerated, synchronous polyp regeneration. In either experimental set-up, incubation in 5-10 mM hydroxyurea effectively halted regeneration. Exposure to an excess of Li+(50-200 mm) or K+(10-50 mM) caused no firing of nematocysts and a percentage of polyp regeneration only slightly higher than control tentacles. Use of the K+channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA; 100-300 mM) lead to similar levels of regeneration. A Ca2+or K+-reduced artificial culture solution did not enhance regeneration. Ouabain (1 mM) dampened the Cs+induced acceleration of polyp morphogenesis, and when given without Cs+, elicited a control level response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Cleveland State University, 44115, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hujer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Colorado at Denver, Campus Box 137, 80217, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Georgia Elizabeth
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lesh-Laurie
keywords: Aurelia; Ions; Morphogenesis; Polyp; Regeneration