|
|
Article: Cytoskeletal architecture and organelle transport in giant syncytia formed by fusion of hexactinellid sponge tissues.
- Article from:
- The Biological Bulletin
- Article date:
- June 1, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Marine Biological Laboratory. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Introduction
The syncytial organization of hexactinellid sponge tissue has been in question since the histology of dredged specimens was first examined. These animals, commonly known as glass sponges because of their siliceous skeleton, inhabit deep waters throughout the world's oceans, making their retrieval in good condition difficult. Early sponge researchers reported that there were no discernible membrane boundaries between nuclei (Schulze, 1887; Ijima, 1901). Although two cell types, archaeocytes and thesocytes, could be distinguished, most of the sponge was thought to be syncytial. At the time, however, many animal tissues were considered to be syncytial, ...