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A new quantitative analysis of the feeding response inHydra japonica: Stimulatory effects of amino acids in addition to reduced glutathione

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Summary

In the feeding response ofHydra japonica evoked by reduced glutathione or S-methyl-gluta-thione, tentacles writhed, and were shrunk and intertwined resulting in the state termed tentacle ball formation (TBF).

A quantitative method for assaying the feeding response was devised making use of TBF. The assay was simple, reliable and highly sensitive for the response in PIPES buffer. EC50 (concentration at which 50% of the maximum response is obtained) for S-methyl-glutathione was as low as 10−8 M, about 2 orders of magnitude lower than has been reported earlier. Seven L-amino acids (arginine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, ornithine, tryptophan and valine) among 21 amino acids examined were found to evoke a discernible TBF at 1 mM. The seven amino acids increased the fraction of animals swallowing the dead, fixedArtemia nauplii, as did S-methyl-glutathione.

The time course of the p t (the fraction of animals exhibiting TBF at t min after beginning of stimulus) was analyzed according to an experimental equation with 3 parametersr, n andT: p t = 2r/(1+exp(t/T) n). A strong correlation (correlation coefficient 0.89) betweenn andT was observed irrespective of various conditions (kinds of stimulants, concentrations). The correlation betweenr andn (orT) was weaker than that betweenn andT.

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Abbreviations

GSH :

reduced glutathione

GSM :

S-methyl-glutathione

PIPES :

piperazine-N,N′-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid)

TBF :

tentacle ball formation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University 33, 812, Fukuoka, Japan

    Kazumitsu Hanai

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  1. Kazumitsu Hanai
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Additional information

The author thanks Prof. H. Morita, Drs. H. Kijima and O. Koizumi for stimulating discussions and advice and Mrs. E. Fukagawa for preparing the manuscript. He also thanks Dr. C. Rees for reading the manuscript.

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Hanai, K. A new quantitative analysis of the feeding response inHydra japonica: Stimulatory effects of amino acids in addition to reduced glutathione. J. Comp. Physiol. 144, 503–508 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01326835

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