Cytological examination of reduction bodies of Corvomeyenia carolinensis harrison (Porifera: Spongillidae)

Abstract

Freshwater sponges, Corvomeyenia carolinensis Harrison, were placed into tap water to induce degenerative reduction body formation. Reduction bodies were examined using light and electron microscopy in order to define their histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics. The reduction body of freshwater sponges is an extremely simple developmental system consisting primarily of an archeocyte reserve delimited by a simple squamous pinacoderm. The freshwater sponge reduction body displays many similarities to overwintering phases of marine sponges. The system presents an unusually straightforward vehicle for investigations of degeneration and regeneration as processes in developmental biology and may represent a reasonable vehicle in which to examine the process of the genesis of lysosomes.

The Cell Biology of Sponges

“…In the case of Spongilla discoides and Corvomeyenia carolinensis, placement of adult animals into tap water leads rapidly to their formation (Penney, 1933;Harrison et al, 1975). The formation of reduction bodies has also been reported in Sycandra (Maas, 1910), Clathrina cerebrum (Urban, 1910), Sycon raphanus (Tu- Figure 8-32 Fully regressed tissue of Suberites massa.…”

“…) zet and Paris, 1963b), Sycon cilia turn (Jones, 1971), Spongilla lacustris and Ephydatia f/uviatilis (Muller, 1911a;Harrison and Davis, 1982), and Leucosolenia botryoides (Jones, 1956). Maas (1910), Muller (1911a), and Harrison et al (1975) have reported the absence of choanocytes in reduction bodies due to phagocytosis by archeocytes, whereas Penney (1933), Urban (1910, and Jones (1971) find that choanocytes are maintained. In the case of Spongilla discoides, they are present but lack flagella and collars.…”

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“…Only general features exist, which are present in all archaeocyte descriptions: an amoeboid shape, a large nucleolated nucleus and the absence of specialized inclusions in the cytoplasm (Ereskovsky and Lavrov 2021;, (Figure 1A,C). As for the function of demosponge archaeocytes, their role has been described in: (1) the transport of food particles and elimination of digestive products (Godefroy et al 2019;Willenz and Van de Vyver 1984); (2) outgoing particulate organic matter (Maldonado 2016); (3) the burrowing processes in excavating sponges (Rützler and Rieger 1973); (4) spicules secretion (Funayama et al 2005;Rozenfeld 1980); (5) immunity role (Fernàndez-Busquets 2008;Smith and Hildemann 1986); (6) gametogenesis (Ereskovsky 2010;); (7) asexual reproduction (budding, gemmulogenesis, reduction body formation) (Ereskovsky et al 2017;Harrison et al 1975;; (8) regeneration, somatic embryogenesis and growth (Buscema et al 1980;Ereskovsky et al 2020Lavrov and Kosevich 2014). Thus, this sponge archaeocyte multifunctionality is unusual for the stem cells of Metazoa.…”

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“…Only general features exist, which are present in all archaeocyte descriptions: an amoeboid shape, a large nucleolated nucleus and the absence of specialized inclusions in the cytoplasm (Ereskovsky and Lavrov 2021;, (Figure 1A,C). As for the function of demosponge archaeocytes, their role has been described in: (1) the transport of food particles and elimination of digestive products (Godefroy et al 2019;Willenz and Van de Vyver 1984); (2) outgoing particulate organic matter (Maldonado 2016); (3) the burrowing processes in excavating sponges (Rützler and Rieger 1973); (4) spicules secretion (Funayama et al 2005;Rozenfeld 1980); (5) immunity role (Fernàndez-Busquets 2008;Smith and Hildemann 1986); (6) gametogenesis (Ereskovsky 2010;); (7) asexual reproduction (budding, gemmulogenesis, reduction body formation) (Ereskovsky et al 2017;Harrison et al 1975;; (8) regeneration, somatic embryogenesis and growth (Buscema et al 1980;Ereskovsky et al 2020Lavrov and Kosevich 2014). Thus, this sponge archaeocyte multifunctionality is unusual for the stem cells of Metazoa.…”