Connective Tissue Catch in Echinoderms

Motokawa, Tatsuo

doi:10.1111/j.1469-185x.1984.tb00409.x

Cited by 168 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In contrast, changes in the mechanical properties of animal tissues that occur actively and reversibly within a few seconds are canonically mediated by ATP-dependent molecular motors, as in muscle (9). A notable exception is the mutable collagenous tissue (MCT) of echinoderms (e.g., starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers), which undergoes rapid changes in stiffness under the control of the nervous system via ATP-independent mechanisms (10)(11)(12). MCT is ubiquitous in echinoderms (12), for example, in the dermis (skin) of sea cucumbers (13,14), in the compass depressor ligament (CDL) of sea urchins (15)(16)(17), and in the arms of feather stars (18).…”

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confidence: 99%

Interfibrillar stiffening of echinoderm mutable collagenous tissue demonstrated at the nanoscale

Prévost

Blowes

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The mutable collagenous tissue (MCT) of echinoderms (e.g., sea cucumbers and starfish) is a remarkable example of a biological material that has the unique attribute, among collagenous tissues, of being able to rapidly change its stiffness and extensibility under neural control. However, the mechanisms of MCT have not been characterized at the nanoscale. Using synchrotron small-angle X-ray diffraction to probe time-dependent changes in fibrillar structure during in situ tensile testing of sea cucumber dermis, we investigate the ultrastructural mechanics of MCT by measuring fibril strain at different chemically induced mechanical states. By measuring a variable interfibrillar stiffness (E IF ), the mechanism of mutability at the nanoscale can be demonstrated directly. A model of stiffness modulation via enhanced fibrillar recruitment is developed to explain the biophysical mechanisms of MCT. Understanding the mechanisms of MCT quantitatively may have applications in development of new types of mechanically tunable biomaterials. mutable collagenous tissue | synchrotron small-angle X-ray diffraction | nanoscale mechanics | fibrillar deformation | sea cucumbers

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confidence: 99%

Interfibrillar stiffening of echinoderm mutable collagenous tissue demonstrated at the nanoscale

Prévost

Blowes

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…The body wall of holothuroids has often been investigated for its spectacular changes in stiffness due to its mutable collagenous tissue (Motokawa, 1984;Wilkie, 1996;Wilkie, 2005) or for its content in toxic secondary metabolites, the so-called saponins (Nigrelli, 1952;Yamanouchi, 1955). It seems therefore to have a major importance in the defense of these slow-moving invertebrates.…”

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confidence: 99%

The triterpene glycosides of Holothuria forskali: usefulness and efficiency as a chemical defense mechanism against predatory fish

Dyck

Caulier

Todesco

et al. 2011

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYMore than 100 triterpene glycosides (saponins) have been characterized in holothuroids in the past several decades. In particular, Holothuria forskali contains 26 saponins in its Cuvierian tubules and 12 in its body wall. This high diversity could be linked to a chemical defense mechanism, the most commonly accepted biological role for these secondary metabolites. We performed an integrated study of the body-wall saponins of H. forskali. The saponins are mainly localized in the epidermis and in the mesothelium of the body wall and appear to be released when the holothuroid is stressed. Among the saponins present in the epidermis, one (holothurinoside G) was detected in the seawater surrounding non-stressed holothuroids and three others (holohurinosides C and F, and desholothurin A) were secreted when the animals were stressed. In addition, two new congeners (detected at m/z 1301 and 1317) were also present in the immediate surroundings of stressed holothuroids. These new saponins do not originate from the epidermis and could come from an internal organ. Quantities of secreted saponins were very low compared with the body wall and Cuvierian tubules concentrations. At natural concentrations, saponins do not represent a threat to the health of predatory fish. The deterrent effect of saponins seems therefore to act as an aposematic signal, warning potential predators of the unpalatability of the holothuroid tissues.

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“…The muscle cells of pulmonate snails are usually not interconnected, but they are directly connected to the collagenous connective tissue surrounding them [64]. In echinoderm muscle a socalled "catch connective tissue" is present, wherein the collagenous fibers are able to contract and this process is controlled also by the nervous system [71]. Analogous collagen fibers can be found in the connective tissue of the gastropod columellar muscle (CM), probably transmitting the force of muscular contraction and ensuring structural rigidity [83].…”

Section: Ultrastructure Responsible For the Peculiar Contractile Propmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anatomical and physiological background permitting spatial odor sensation in stylommatophoran molluscs

Kiss

Krajcs

2016

Acta Biologica Hungarica

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Earlier experiments demonstrated that in order to place protracted tentacles and thereby olfactory receptors in an appropriate position for optimal perception of odor stimuli extraordinary complex movements are required. Until recently both large scale tentacle movements and patterned tentacle movements have been attributed to the concerted involvement of the tentacle retractor muscle and muscles of tegumentum. Recently the existence of three novel muscles in the posterior tentacles of Helix has been discovered. The present review, based on experimental data obtained by our research group, outlines the anatomy, physiology and pharmacology of these muscles that enable the tentacles to execute complex movements observed during foraging both in naïve and food-conditioned snails. Our findings are also compared as far as possible with earlier and recent data obtained on innervation characteristics and pharmacology of molluscan muscles.

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Connective Tissue Catch in Echinoderms

Cited by 168 publications

References 36 publications

Interfibrillar stiffening of echinoderm mutable collagenous tissue demonstrated at the nanoscale

Interfibrillar stiffening of echinoderm mutable collagenous tissue demonstrated at the nanoscale

The triterpene glycosides of Holothuria forskali: usefulness and efficiency as a chemical defense mechanism against predatory fish

Anatomical and physiological background permitting spatial odor sensation in stylommatophoran molluscs

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