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Journal of Experimental Biology 19,294-310 (1942)
Published by Company of Biologists 1942

The Excitation of Nematocysts

C. F. A. PANTIN ¹

¹ Zoological Laboratory, Cambridge

1. The nature of the stimulus which causes discharge of the cnidae (nematocysts and spirocysts) in the tentacles of Anemonia sulcata has been studied.

2. The cnidoblasts behave as independent effectors. Contact with solid food or electric stimuli cause only local discharge. Repetitive electric stimulation at various frequencies causes spread of excitation far down the nerve net of the tentacle but the cnida discharge remains localized under the stimulating electrode. There is no physiological evidence for any connexion ofcnidoblasts with the nervous system.

3. The stimulus to the cnidoblast is primarily due to direct mechanical contact. Discharge is easily effected by solid food. It can also be effected by inert solids provided the mechanical stimulus is sufficiently intense.

4. The normal stimulus to the cnidoblast is not a directly chemical one. Most food solutions and solutions of food derivatives do not cause a discharge. Some strong food solutions cause a few scattered cnidae to discharge. This differs from the intense local discharge to solid food.

5. Immersion in solutions of certain surface-active substances, such as the lower fatty acids, bile salts and saponin, causes an immediate general discharge of all the cnidae. This differs from the normal discharge to solid food.

6. Although natural food solutions do not normally cause a discharge, the cnidae are easily discharged by contact when they are present. That is, food solutions sensitize the cnidoblasts to mechanical stimuli.

7. The sensitizing substance is not protein. But it is strongly adsorbed on to protein. It cannot be extracted with ethyl ether. But it can be extracted with ethyl alcohol or acetone. Alcohol extracts of food are very active in sensitizing the cnidoblasts to mechanical disturbance.

8. Water insoluble foods can sensitize cnidoblasts with which they come in contact. Sensitization by contact is almost instantaneous. It is suggested that normally sensitization is due to some surface active lipoid directly transferred to the cnidoblast by contact.

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