spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by BRAFIELD, A.E.
Right arrow Articles by CHAPMAN, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by BRAFIELD, A.E.
Right arrow Articles by CHAPMAN, G.
Journal of Experimental Biology 107,181-187 (1983)
Published by Company of Biologists 1983

Diffusion of Oxygen through the Mesogloea of the Sea Anemone Calliactis Parasitica

A.E. BRAFIELD 1 and G. CHAPMAN 2

1 Department of Biology, Queen Elizabeth College, University of London, Campden Hill Road, London W8 7AH
2 Department of Biology, Queen Elizabeth College, University of London Campden Hill Road, London W8 7AH

The diffusion of oxygen through preparations of the mesogloea of Calliactis parasitica (Couch) has been measured with a custom-built diffusion cell and an oxygen microelectrode. The mean value for Fick's diffusion coefficient was 7.29 x 10-6 cm2s-1 and that for Krogh's diffusion constant 10.00 x 10-6 cm3 oxygen per min per cm2 area and cm thickness at a pressure difference of 1 atmosphere, at 25 °C. Comparison with the rather few values in the literature for oxygen diffusion through biological materials indicates that mesogloea is similar to connective tissue. The mesogloea of Calliactis seems to present a fairly significant barrier to the diffusion of oxygen between the two cell layers, and this is discussed in relation to the route whereby the endoderm obtains its oxygen.

Key words: Oxygen diffusion, mesogloea, coelenterates

Submitted on January 17, 1983
Accepted on May 6, 1983






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1983