Abstract
1. It is not necessary to postulate an environmental hormone in order to explain the feeding response in hydra. Since nematocysts which are removed from the tissues of the hydra do not retain small molecules (methylene blue) which they readily accept and bind in the intact animal, it is suggested that during nematocyst discharge, in addition to the introduction into the prey of a toxic material, a certain substance or substances leak from the butt of the nematocyst capsule and diffuse into the surrounding medium. This substance(s) is capable of stimulating mouth-opening when it comes into contact with the hypostome. Dilute concentrations of the substance which will not elicit a feeding response are found to do so if the tentacles are stimulated mechanically. This explains how a few stenoteles, when discharged into an actively wriggling prey animal, are sufficient to stimulate mouth-opening.2. Although there is evidence that GSH is not the specific evocator of the feeding response in hydra in nature, more ...
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