Different nematocytes have different synapses in the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida (Cnidaria, Anthozoa)

Journal of Morphology
J A WestfallJ D McCallum

Abstract

Sea anemones feed by discharging nematocysts into their prey, but the pathway for control of nematocyst discharge is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultrastructural evidence of neuro-nematocyte synapses and to determine the types of synaptic vesicles present at different kinds of nematocyst-containing cells. The tip and middle of tentacles from small specimens of Aiptasia pallida were prepared for electron microscopy and serial micrographs were examined. We found clear vesicles in synapses on mastigophore-containing nematocytes and dense-cored vesicles in synapses on basitrich-containing nematocytes and on one cnidoblast with a developing nematocyst. In addition, we found reciprocal neuro-neuronal and sequential neuro-neuro-nematocyte synapses in which dense-cored vesicles were present. It was concluded that : (1) neuro-nematocyte synapses are present in sea anemones, (2) different kinds of synaptic vesicles are present at cells containing different types of nematocysts, (3) synapses are present on cnidoblasts before the developing nematocyst can be identified and these synapses may have a trophic influence on nematocyst differentiation, and (4) both reciprocal and sequential synapses are present at th...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1978·Journal of Neurocytology·J A Westfall, J C Kinnamon
Jan 1, 1992·Cell and Tissue Research·P A AndersonC J Grimmelikhuijzen
Aug 1, 1970·Journal of Ultrastructure Research·J A Westfall
Dec 1, 1996·Journal of Neurocytology·I A Westfall
Feb 1, 1996·The Biological Bulletin·L D Saripalli, J A Westfall
Aug 1, 1993·The Biological Bulletin·J A Westfall, Cjp Grimmelikhuijzen

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Citations

Mar 24, 2010·Journal of Morphology·Luz M DelgadoOliver Schmachtenberg
May 27, 2020·ELife·Keiko WeirNicholas W Bellono
Jan 28, 2003·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Paul G GreenwoodCynthia Lohmann

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