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Pigments Present in Arms and Pinnules of the Crinoid, Antedon bifida (Pennant)

Nature volume 182, page 812 (1958)Cite this article

Abstract

IN A. bifida red pigment usually occurs in protein granules in superficial connective tissue and in the eggs. The skeleton is colourless. When freshly detached pinnules are placed on slides and covered with sodium hydrosulphite solution, microscopic examination reveals that the red colour is immediately lost, but is restored in the granules when this solution is replaced quickly by sea water, and more markedly if drops of hydrogen peroxide are added to the sea water. Cannan1 applied this test to Arbacia and Echinus echinochrome with similar results. The pigment restored in colour passes gradually into the protein pyriform bodies in the sacculi in Antedon. In distilled water the red pigment also passes into these bodies, which are discharged. Ball2 used acid alcohol to extract echinochrome from Arbacia, and this solvent proved to be effective in removing selectively the red pigment from Antedon from Plymouth. Extraction procedure and tests performed were as follows :

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Reading,

    E. J. DIMELOW

Authors
  1. E. J. DIMELOW
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DIMELOW, E. Pigments Present in Arms and Pinnules of the Crinoid, Antedon bifida (Pennant). Nature 182, 812 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/182812a0

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