Physiology and histology of the Cubomedusæ: including Dr. F.S. Conant's notes on the physiologyBerger, E. W. (Edward William)
Science
Physiology and histology of the Cubomedusæ: including Dr. F.S. Conant's notes on the physiology
Berger, E. W. (Edward William)
Cubomedusae
The _Polyclonia_ was in good condition, but was pulsating only
intermittently when first seen in the morning. When the remaining seven
lithocysts were cut out and no more pulsations were observed, the oral
arms could still move.
May 14th. Both were found dead upon returning in the evening.
44. May 15th. An Aurelia and a Polyclonia were taken in the morning. The
_Aurelia_ was two and one-half to three inches (62.5-75 mm.) in diameter,
with three tufts of phacelli, three oral arms and seven lithocysts.
The _Polyclonia_ was normal and seven or eight inches (175-200 mm.) in
diameter.
In the _Aurelia_ all the lithocysts were removed. Spontaneous and
coördinated contractions could still occur after time had been allowed
for the shock from the operation to pass away. The next day the animal
was still alive and pulsating, but ragged, and the next day following was
quite dead.
In the _Polyclonia_ the normal rhythm was fourteen pulsations to the
minute. Some pulsations were apparently quicker than others and the
intervals were not the same. Thirteen, ten, and twelve pulsations were
also counted. After putting the animal into fresh sea-water, it pulsated
thirty-three to the minute. Six minutes later it was still pulsating
at the same rate, while in four minutes more eleven pulsations, many
of which were in groups of two, were noted. In five minutes more it
pulsated eleven times to the minute with only one double pulsation. One
_oral arm_ was then cut off and the rhythm counted about one minute
afterward--fourteen pulsations, then a pause of fifteen seconds, then two
pulsations, in all sixteen to the minute were counted. About ten minutes
later there were eight pulsations, two or three minutes later only three,
while in two or three minutes more only three. There was a long latent
period--two or three seconds--before the stimulation of cutting off the
arm made itself evident in the rhythm.
A second oral lobe was removed. Then there followed twenty-four
pulsations, a pause of two seconds, and two pulsations, in all twenty-six
pulsations to a minute. The rate of pulsation soon fell to the previously
abnormal low rate.
Third lobe removed: 21 pulsations in first half minute and then 16, or 37
per minute.
Fourth lobe removed: 17 pulsations in first half-minute plus 13 gives 30
for the minute.
No difference in the coördination of the animal was shown as a result of
the removal of one-half the number of oral arms.
Fifth lobe removed: 17 pulsations plus 15 equals 32 to the minute.
Sixth lobe removed: 17 in first half-minute plus 4 in the second
half-minute gives 21 pulsations for the minute.
Seventh lobe removed: 17 plus 9, or 26 per minute.
In all these instances the rhythm in the second half of the first minute
was irregular and intermittent.
Seventeen and then seven pulsations were provoked after the animal had
become quiescent, or nearly so, by merely handling it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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