Studies on the Mesogloea of Coelenterates

Abstract

1. The physical properties of the isolated mesogloea of Calliactis and Metridium are described and the behaviour of the tissue on loading recorded. It can be compared with a spring and dashpot model. 2. It is shown that the viscous-elastic properties of the body-wall, which have previously been ascribed to the muscles, are the attributes of the mesogloea. 3. On being heated in water under a small load, isolated mesogloea of Calliactis contracts, at temperatures which are only a little higher than those at which vertebrate collagen contracts. This is regarded as additional evidence for the collagenous nature of the mesogloea protein. 4. It is shown that the physical behaviour of the material is consonant with the crossed fibrillar collagenous nature of the mesogloea described elsewhere.