Abstract
AbstractThe analysis and understanding of immune reactions in sponges are presently impaired by numerous discrepancies and inconsistencies between the results obtained for different species that make critical judgment difficult. In order to determine the possible influence of experimental procedures, parabiotic allografts were performed on Axinella verrucosa and Axinella damicornis. Three reactions were observed in allogrfts of Axinella verrucosa: acceptance, nonfusion, and chronic rejection. The acceptance reaction differed from the fusion of control autografts by a transient phase of dense cell accumulation between the parabionts. Nonfusion resulted in the virtual absence of reaction between the incompatible sponges. Chronic rejection was characterized by: 1) intensive cell migration and accumulation of collencytes in the zone of contact; 2) regular alignment of these cells on each side of that zone; 3) deposition of a collagen barrier that progressively joined but demarcated the parabionts. Some sponges presented nonfusion or chronic rejection depending on their graft partner. All allografts in Axinella damicornis displayed a chronic rejection reaction, which was essentially similar, but more intense and faster, than in Axinella verrucosa. However, in Axinella damicornis, the parabionts which were separated by the barrier became independent instead of joined. Reasons for and the implications of such a diversity of immune reactions in sponges are discussed.
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