Cellular differentiation and morphogenesis in Cordylophora

The interstitial cells ofCordylophora were destroyed by treating animals with 4,500 Roentgens of x-irradiation. Within 5-6 days after treatment no interstitial cells were detected in the treated animals and they were never seen in later stages. Some cell divisions were noted in the epidermal epithelio-muscular cells of the x-rayed animals which survived for four weeks. This was ample time to perform reaggregation-reconstitution experiments.Isolated, untreated coenosarc formed a mass from which hydranths and stolons arose. X-rayed coenosarc also formed these structures, although regenerative capacity was less than that of normal coenosarc. The number of stolons and hydranths produced decreased with length of time after irradiation. Both normal and x-rayed coenosarc masses exhibited a tendency to form a greater number of hydranths than stolons when the ratio of epidermis to gastrodermis was low and a greater number of stolons when the ratio of epidermis to gastrodermis was high. Masses prepared from the amounts of epidermis and gastrodermis normally found in intact animals produced intermediate numbers of hydranths and stolons.Isolated, untreated epidermis produced a gastrodermal layer from interstitial cells. They migrated to the inner surface of the epidermal epithelio-muscular cells, enlarged and differentiated into typical gastrodermal-digestive cells. These preparations formed hydranths and developed into colonies. X-irradiated epidermis did not form an inner gastrodermal layer but did secrete perisarc on the periphery. In some ćases a second layer of epidermal epithelio-muscular cells was noted on the interior of the x-rayed masses. However, none of the irradiated epidermal masses produced hydranths or stolons or survived to form colonies.Gastrodermis was isolated from normal animals and although the cells rounded up into a spherical mass no morphogenesis occurred and the masses disintegrated within 12-24 hours. Irradiated gastrodermis behaved in the same manner.Normal epidermis was applied to x-rayed gastrodermis and from these preparations normal animals were produced.Normal, untreated gastrodermis combined with x-rayed epidermis yielded viable animals. Interstitial cells appeared to be produced by dedifferentiation of gland cells. The interstitial cells thus formed were able to divide and differentiate into cnidoblasts typical of epidermis.Thus, inCordylophora both epidermal and gastrodermal cells have the capacity to form cell types characteristic of the reciprocal layer.