Summary
-
1.
A remarkable rise of the feeding threshold in satiated hydra,Hydra japonica, was observed during the assay of GSM-induced mouth-opening responses in conjunction with periods of starvation (Figs. 1, 2).
-
2.
Despite marked changes of the feeding threshold, the affinity between the peripheral chemoreceptor, the glutathione receptor, and a strong antagonist of the receptor, L-glutamate, was little changed by satiation or starvation (Figs. 3, 4, 5).
-
3.
These results suggest the existence of internal central control mechanisms of feeding behavior, although the nervous system inHydra is morphologically diffuse and has neither brain nor ganglion.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- GSM:
-
S-methyl glutathione
References
Burnett AI, Lentz T, Warren M (1966) The question of control of the nematocyst discharge reaction by fully fedHydra. Ann Soc R Zool Berg 90:247–267
Dethier VG (1976) The hungry fly: A physiological study of the behavior associated with feeding. Harvard University Press, Cambridge Mass London
Finney DJ (1971) Probit analysis, 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge London New York Melbourne
Hirakawa Y, Kijima H (1980) Behavioral analysis of glutathione receptor ofHydra: I. Mouth-opening threshold, inhibition constant and their temperature dependence. J Comp Physiol 137:73–81
Kawabata K, Shiraishi A (1977) Variation of acceptance thresholds in the blowfly by increasing sugar concentrations in the food. J Comp Physiol 118:33–49
Koizumi O, Kijima H (1980) Specific S-methylglutathione incorporation into a nematocyst-rich fraction ofHydra. Biochim Biophys Acta 629:338–348
Lenhoff HM (1961) Activation of the feeding reflex inHydra littoralis I. Roles played by reduced glutathione and quantitative assay of the feeding reflex. J Gen Physiol 45:331–344
Lenhoff HM (1974) On the mechanism of action and evolution of receptors associated with feeding and digestion. In: Muscatine L, Lenhoff HM (ed) Coelenterate biology. Academic Press, New York San Francisco London, pp 211–243
Loomis WF (1955) Glutathione control of the specific feeding reaction ofHydra. Ann NY Acad Sci 62:209–228
Loomis WF, Lenhoff HM (1956) Growth and sexual differentiation ofHydra in mass culture. J Exp Zool 132:555–574
Marler P, Hamilton WJ (1966) Mechanisms of animal behavior. Wieley, New York London Sydney
Novin D (1977) The mechanisms of satiety. In: Katsuki Y, Sato M, Takagi SF, Oomura Y (ed) Food intake and chemical senses. Japan Scientific Societies Press, Tokyo, pp 399–411
Oomura Y (1973) Central mechanism of feeding. In: Kotani M (ed) Advances in biophysics, vol 5. University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo, pp 65–142
Rang HP (1971) Drug receptors and their function. Nature 186:91–96
Rushforth NB (1973) Behavior. In: Burnett AL (ed) Biology of hydra. Academic Press, New York London, pp 3–41
Smith S, Oshida J, Bode H (1974) Inhibition of nematocyst discharge inHydra fed to repletion. Biol Bull 147:186–202
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We are greatly indebted to Dr. Hiromasa Kijima for critical reading of this manuscript. We would like to thank Dr. Hiromichi Morita and Dr. Masutaro Kuwabara for much helpful encouragement. Dr. Akio Shiraishi is also acknowledged for very useful discussions. This work was supported in part by the Scientific Reseach Fund from the Ministry of Education of Japan.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Koizumi, O., Maeda, N. Rise of feeding threshold in satiatedHydra . J. Comp. Physiol. 142, 75–80 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00605478
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00605478