Skip to main content

The photobiology of Hydra’s periodic activity

Hydrobiologia volume 530, pages 129–134 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Hydra’s response to a light pulse is a phase shift of the state of bioelectric activity correlated with the periodic shortening-elongation behaviour. The direction and absolute value of a phase shift depend on intensity, direction, application phase (along the periodic activity state), and wavelength of the light pulse. Repetitive pulses entrain the behavioural cycle. The period of the behavioural cycle depends on intensity and wavelength of steady background illumination; however, the light effect is not exerted isotropically along all the phases of the behavioural cycle. Inferences are drawn on light influence on the behaviour pacemaking mechanism. By using polyclonal antibodies against squid rhodopsin, an opsin-like protein has been identified in the ectodermal layer, presumably in sensory cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • M. Borner P. Tardent (1971) ArticleTitleDer Einfluss von Licht auf die Spontanaktivität von Hydra attenuata Pall Revue Suisse de Zoologie 78 697–704

    Google Scholar 

  • R.M. Eakin (1972) Structure of invertebrate photoreceptors H.J.A. Dartnall (Eds) Handbook of Sensory Physiology, VII/I, Photochemistry of Vision Springer Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 625–684

    Google Scholar 

  • V.L. Ellis (1970) ArticleTitleThe spectral sensitivity of Hydra carnea L. Agassiz 1980. Journal of Zoology 48 63–68

    Google Scholar 

  • R.G. Foster M.W. Hankins (2002) ArticleTitleNon-rod, non-cone photoreception in the vertebrates Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 21 507–527 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1350-9462(02)00036-8 Occurrence Handle12433375

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R.G. Foster B.G. Soni (1998) ArticleTitleExtraretinal photoreceptors and their regulation of temporal physiology Reviews of Reproduction 3 145–150 Occurrence Handle10.1530/ror.0.0030145 Occurrence Handle9829548 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXntlamtL4%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • N. Gao M. von Schantz R.G. Foster J. Hardie (1999) ArticleTitleThe putative brain photoperiodic photoreceptors in the vetch aphid, Megoura viciae Journal of Insect Physiology 45 1011–1019 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0022-1910(99)00082-7 Occurrence Handle12770276 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXlslShurg%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W. Gartner P. Towner (1995) ArticleTitleInvertebrate visual pigments Photochemistry and Photobiology 62 1–16 Occurrence Handle7638252 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2MzmsFChug%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W.J. Gehring (2002) ArticleTitleThe genetic control of eye development and its implications for the evolution of the various eye-types International Journal of Developmental Biology 46 65–73 Occurrence Handle11902689

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • C.J.P. Grimmelikhuijzen J.A. Westfall (1995) The nervous systems of Cnidarians O. Breidbach W. Kutsch (Eds) The Nervous Systems of Invertebrates: an Evolutionary and Comparative Approach Birkhäuser Basel 7–24

    Google Scholar 

  • T. Hara R. Hara (1980) ArticleTitleRetinochrome and rhodopsin in the extraocular photoreceptor of the squid Todarodes Journal of General Physiology 75 1–19 Occurrence Handle10.1085/jgp.75.1.1 Occurrence Handle7359116 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3cXht1Ggsb4%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C. Helfrich-Forster T. Edwards K. Yasuyama B. Wisotzki S. Schneuwly R. Stanewsky I.A. Meinertzhagen A. Hofbauer (2002) ArticleTitleThe extraretinal eyelet of Drosophila: development, ultrastructure, and putative circadian function Journal of Neuroscience 22 9255–9266 Occurrence Handle12417651

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R.K. Josephson (1967) ArticleTitleConduction and contraction in the column of Hydra Journal of Experimental Biology 47 179–190

    Google Scholar 

  • R.K. Josephson M. Macklin (1967) ArticleTitleTransepithelial potentials in Hydra Science 156 1629–1631 Occurrence Handle4381624 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaF2s7mtV2rtg%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • G. Kass-Simon (1972) ArticleTitleLongitudinal conduction of contraction burst pulses from hypostomal excitation loci in Hydra attenuata Journal of Comparative Physiology 80 29–49 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00694326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G. Kass-Simon V.K. Diesl (1977) ArticleTitleSpontaneous and evoked potentials from dissociated epithelial cells of Hydra Nature 265 75–77 Occurrence Handle10.1038/265075a0 Occurrence Handle834245 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE2s7gtVeisA%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • G. Kass-Simon L.A. Hufnagel (1991) Functional anatomy of Hydra’s tentacular ganglion cell Schloss Reisenburg Günzburg 57

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Kass-Simon L.M. Passano (1978) ArticleTitleA neuropharmachological analysis of the pacemaker and conducting tissues of Hydra attenuata Journal of Comparative Physiology 128 71–79 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE1MXhtFynsb0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D. Kojima Y. Fukada (1999) ArticleTitleNon-visual photoreception by a variety of vertebrate opsins Novartis Foundation Symposium 224 265–279 Occurrence Handle10614056 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjt1Cqsr0%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • V.J. Martin (2002) ArticleTitlePhotoreceptors of cnidarians Canadian Journal of Zoology 80 1703–1722 Occurrence Handle10.1139/z02-136 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXks1Kmsw%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C.B. McCullough (1965) ArticleTitlePacemaker interaction in Hydra American Zoologist 5 499–504 Occurrence Handle14345254 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaF2M7ltVWmuw%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C. Musio S. Santillo C. Taddei-Ferretti L.J. Robles R. Vismara L. Barsanti P. Gualtieri (2001) ArticleTitleFirst identification and localization of a visual pigment in Hydra (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) Journal of Comparative Physiology A 187 79–81 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MvkslKruw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L.M. Passano C.B. McCullough (1962) ArticleTitleThe light response and the rhythmic potentials in Hydra Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 48 1376–1382 Occurrence Handle16590985 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD28zit1arsQ%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L.M. Passano C.B. McCullough (1963) ArticleTitlePacemaker hierarchies controlling the behaviour of hydras Nature 199 1174–1175 Occurrence Handle14072038 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaF2c%2FivFKksA%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L.M. Passano C.B. McCullough (1964) ArticleTitleCo-ordinating systems and behaviour in Hydra. I. Pacemaker system of the periodic contractions. Journal of Experimental Biology 41 643–664

    Google Scholar 

  • L.M. Passano C.B. McCullough (1965) ArticleTitleCo-ordinating systems and behaviour in Hydra. II. The rhythmic potential system. Journal of Experimental Biology 42 205–231 Occurrence Handle14328679 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaF2M7jtlelsw%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L.J. Robles J.W. Brennenmann E.O. Anderson V.A. Nottoli L. Kegler (1986) ArticleTitleImmunocytochemical localization of a rhodopsin-like protein in the lipocondria in photosensitive neurons of Aplysia californica Cell and Tissue Research 244 115–120 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00218388 Occurrence Handle3009019 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28Xit1ahtr8%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • N.B. Rushforth (1971) ArticleTitleBehavioral and electrophysiological studies of Hydra. I. Analysis of contraction pulse patterns. Biological Bulletin, Woods Hole 140 255–273

    Google Scholar 

  • N.B. Rushforth (1973) Behavioral modifications in Coelenterates W.C. Corning J.A. Dyal A.O.D. Willows (Eds) Invertebrate Learning, I. Plenum New York, London 123–169

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Santillo C. Taddei-Ferretti M. Nobile (1997) ArticleTitleResting potentials recorded in the whole-cell configuration from epithelial cells of Hydra Italian Journal of Zoology 64 7–11 Occurrence Handle10.1080/11250009709356167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santillo, S., A. Cotugno & C. Musio, 2002. A multilevel biophysical approach to understand extraocular photoreception in Hydra. 16th Congress of the Italian Society for Pure and Applied Biophysics, Trento: 22.

  • G.A. Shibley (1969) ArticleTitleGastrodermal contractions correlated with rhythmic potentials and prelocomotor bursts in Hydra American Zoologist 9 586

    Google Scholar 

  • R.H. Singer N.B. Rushforth A.L. Burnett (1963) ArticleTitlePhotodynamic action of light in Hydra Journal of Experimental Zoology 154 169–173 Occurrence Handle10.1002/jez.1401540204 Occurrence Handle14085414 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaF2c%2FktlSktg%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H. Sun A. Rodin Y. Zhou D.P. Dickinson D.E. Harper D. Hewett-Emmett W.H. Li (1997) ArticleTitleEvolution of paired domains: isolation and sequencing of jellyfish and Hydra Pax genes related to Pax-5 and Pax-6 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 94 5156–5161 Occurrence Handle9144207 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjtlemurg%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti S. Chillemi (1987) ArticleTitleModulation of Hydra attenuata rhythmic activity V. A revised interpretation. Biological Cybernetics 56 225–235

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti L. Cordella (1975) ArticleTitleModulation of Hydra attenuata rhythmic activity: photic stimulation Archives Italiennes de Biologie 113 107–121 Occurrence Handle1180620 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE28%2FjvVyitg%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti L. Cordella (1976) ArticleTitleModulation of Hydra attenuata rhythmic activity. II. Phase response curve. Journal of Experimental Biology 65 737–751 Occurrence Handle1018170 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE2s7itVansQ%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taddei-Ferretti, C. & A. Cotugno, 1988. Wavelength effect of background illumination upon pulse stimulation effect in Hydra. 9th Italian Congress of the National Group of Cybernetics and Biophysics, Trento: 102.

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti A. Cotugno (1991) ArticleTitleInteraction between the effects of light pulses of different chromatic content in Hydra attenuata Hydrobiologia 216/217 589–593 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00026517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti C. Musio (1994) ArticleTitleTemperature effect on rhythmic activity and biopotentials in Hydra attenuata Progress in Biochemistry and Biotechnology 3 69–84

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti C. Musio (1999) The neural net of Hydra and the modulation of its periodic activity J. Mira J.V. Sanchez-Andres (Eds) Foundations and Tools for Neural Modeling Springer Berlin 123–137

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti C. Musio (2000) ArticleTitlePhotobehaviour of Hydra (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) and correlated mechanisms: a case of extraocular photosensitivity Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B 55 88–101 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXksFemu7g%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti L. Cordella S. Chillemi (1976) Analysis of Hydra contraction behaviour G.O. Mackie (Eds) Coelenterate Ecology and Behavior Plenum New York, London 685–694

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti S. Chillemi A. Cotugno (1987) ArticleTitleModulation of Hydra attenuata rhythmic activity, IV. The mechanism responsible for rhythmic activity. Experimental Biology 46 133–140 Occurrence Handle3582583 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL2s3hvV2rsQ%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti V. Di Maio S. Ferraro A. Cotugno (1988) Hydra photoresponses to different wavelengths R.H. Douglas J. Moan F. Dall’Acqua (Eds) Light in Biology and Medicine, I. Plenum New York 411–416

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti C. Musio A. Cotugno (1991) Different weights of the influence of different light pulse position inside a stimulation in Hydra C. Frediani (Eds) Cybernetics and Biophysics Italian Conference, SIF Conference Proceedings, 31. Compositori Bologna 123–138

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti V. Di Maio C. Musio A. Cotugno (1992) ArticleTitleModulation of Hydra attenuata rhythmic activity VI. Combined effects of background and pulse light wavelength Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B 15 307–315 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38Xmt12itbo%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti C. Musio S. Chillemi (1994a) Resetting the periodic activity of Hydra at a fixed phase M. Marinaro P.G. Morasso (Eds) ICANN’94, v Springer London 154–157

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Taddei-Ferretti S. Chillemi V. Di Maio C. Musio (1994b) ArticleTitleSuppression of Hydra periodic shortening activity by repetitive phase delay Progress in Biochemistry and Biotechnology 2 147–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Taddei-Ferretti, C., C. Musio, S. Santillo & A. Cotugno, 1997. Combined light and temperature effects on Hydra periodic behaviour. In den Hartog, J. C. (ed.), Coelenterate Biology. Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum, Leiden: 473–482

  • P. Tardent E. Frei M. Borner (1976) The reaction of Hydra attenuata Pall. to various photic stimuli G.O. Mackie (Eds) Coelenterate Ecology and Behavior Plenum New York, London 501–512

    Google Scholar 

  • J.A. Westfall (1973) ArticleTitleUltrastructural evidence for a granule-containing sensory-motor-interneuron in Hydra littoralis Journal of Ultrastructure Research 42 268–282 Occurrence Handle4702922 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE3s7ntlGgsQ%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J.A. Westfall J.C. Kinnamon (1978) ArticleTitleA second sensory-motor-interneuron with neurosecretory granules in Hydra Journal of Neurocytology 7 365–379 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01176999 Occurrence Handle207827 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE1c7ps1WhtA%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S. Yokoyama (2000) ArticleTitleMolecular evolution of vertebrate visual pigments Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 4 385–419

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Yoshida (1979) Extraocular photoreception H. Autrum (Eds) Handbook of Sensory Physiology, VII/6A, Comparative Physiology and Evolution of Vision in Invertebrates Springer Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 582–640

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Cibernetica ‘E.R. Caianiello’, CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy

    Cloe Taddei-ferretti, Carlo Musio, Silvia Santillo & Antonio Cotugno

Authors
  1. Cloe Taddei-ferretti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carlo Musio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Silvia Santillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Antonio Cotugno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cloe Taddei-ferretti.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Taddei-ferretti, C., Musio, C., Santillo, S. et al. The photobiology of Hydra’s periodic activity. Hydrobiologia 530, 129–134 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-2680-6

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-2680-6

Keywords

  • periodic behaviour
  • phase shift
  • photosensitivity
  • light wavelength
  • photopigments
  • opsin-like protein