Gap and septate junctions in the excitable endoderm of Polyorchis penicillatus (Hydrozoa, Anthomedusae)

The morphological basis of impulse conduction in a jellyfish epithelium was investigated. Lanthanum impregnation of endodermal canal and endodermal lamella verified the existence of true gap junctions in Polyorchis. In both transverse and en face sections of gap junctions, electron-lucent globules, with a width of 7--8 nm and a spacing of about 11 nm, are evident. Gap-junctions are concentrated at the peripheral canal margin and septate junctions are localized around the canal lumen. Epithelial cells of the endodermal canals are capable of conducting a non-decrementing action potential. It is suggested that endodermal spike propagation, which can mediate 'crumpling' behaviour, is dependent upon low-resistence ionic pathways provided by gap-junctions and upon sealing of the intercellular space from saline extracellular fluids by septate junctions.