Retinoic acid acts as a morphogen in freshwater sponges

1994/07/01 by Georg Imsiecke, Radovan Borojević, Márcio Reis Custódio +1 · 1 voice · 3 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Immunology and Microbiology · #Marine Sponges and Natural Products #Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms #Aquaculture disease management and microbiota

paper · doi:10.1080/07924259.1994.9672405

openalex publication_date 1994/07/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Summary The effect of retinoic acid [RA] on the morphogenesis of freshwater sponges (Spongilla lacustris, Ephydatia fluviatilis, Ephydatia muelleri) was studied. At a concentration of 2 μM, RA had no overt effect on pinacocytes and choanocytes but had already altered mesohyl cell movement and adhesion after 1 h treatment. It interfered with morphogenesis of sponges developing both from larvae and gemmules, inhibiting the formation of the aquiferous system, and promoting formation of reduction bodies. The same was observed in treatment of functional sponges with RA. We conclude that RA induces modifications in mesohyl cell adhesion and interaction, analogous to that observed in induction of reduction bodies formation or gemmulogenesis.

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Discussions

• Imsiecke, G, Custódio MR, Borojevic R, Steffen R, Moustafa MA, Müller WEG (1994) Retinoic acid acts as morphogen in freshwater sponges. Inv Rep Dev 26(2):89-98 (ask if you cannot access) [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]