The Architecture of Sponge Choanocyte Chambers Maximizes Mechanical Pumping Efficiency

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Ogawa, Takumi, Koyama, Shuji, Omori, Toshihiro, Kikuchi, Kenji, de Maleprade, Helene, Goldstein, Raymond E., Ishikawa, Takuji
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Ogawa, Takumi
Koyama, Shuji
Omori, Toshihiro
Kikuchi, Kenji
de Maleprade, Helene
Goldstein, Raymond E.
Ishikawa, Takuji
author_facet Ogawa, Takumi
Koyama, Shuji
Omori, Toshihiro
Kikuchi, Kenji
de Maleprade, Helene
Goldstein, Raymond E.
Ishikawa, Takuji
contents Sponges, the basalmost members of the animal kingdom, exhibit a range of complex architectures in which microfluidic channels connect multitudes of spherical chambers lined with choanocytes, flagellated filter-feeding cells. Choanocyte chambers can possess scores or even hundreds of such cells, which drive complex flows entering through porous walls and exiting into the sponge channels. One of the mysteries of the choanocyte chamber is its spherical shape, as it seems inappropriate for inducing directional transport since many choanocyte flagella beat in opposition to such a flow. Here we combine direct imaging of choanocyte chambers in living sponges with computational studies of many-flagella models to understand the connection between chamber architecture and directional flow. We find that those flagella that beat against the flow play a key role in raising the pressure inside the choanocyte chamber, with the result that the mechanical pumping efficiency, calculated from the pressure rise and flow rate, reaches a maximum at a small outlet opening angle. Comparison between experimental observations and the results of numerical simulations reveal that the chamber diameter, flagellar wave number and the outlet opening angle of the freshwater sponge $E. muelleri$, as well as several other species, are related in a manner that maximizes the mechanical pumping efficiency. These results indicate the subtle balances at play during morphogenesis of choanocyte chambers, and give insights into the physiology and body design of sponges.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2402_14364
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Architecture of Sponge Choanocyte Chambers Maximizes Mechanical Pumping Efficiency
Ogawa, Takumi
Koyama, Shuji
Omori, Toshihiro
Kikuchi, Kenji
de Maleprade, Helene
Goldstein, Raymond E.
Ishikawa, Takuji
Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
Tissues and Organs
Sponges, the basalmost members of the animal kingdom, exhibit a range of complex architectures in which microfluidic channels connect multitudes of spherical chambers lined with choanocytes, flagellated filter-feeding cells. Choanocyte chambers can possess scores or even hundreds of such cells, which drive complex flows entering through porous walls and exiting into the sponge channels. One of the mysteries of the choanocyte chamber is its spherical shape, as it seems inappropriate for inducing directional transport since many choanocyte flagella beat in opposition to such a flow. Here we combine direct imaging of choanocyte chambers in living sponges with computational studies of many-flagella models to understand the connection between chamber architecture and directional flow. We find that those flagella that beat against the flow play a key role in raising the pressure inside the choanocyte chamber, with the result that the mechanical pumping efficiency, calculated from the pressure rise and flow rate, reaches a maximum at a small outlet opening angle. Comparison between experimental observations and the results of numerical simulations reveal that the chamber diameter, flagellar wave number and the outlet opening angle of the freshwater sponge $E. muelleri$, as well as several other species, are related in a manner that maximizes the mechanical pumping efficiency. These results indicate the subtle balances at play during morphogenesis of choanocyte chambers, and give insights into the physiology and body design of sponges.
title The Architecture of Sponge Choanocyte Chambers Maximizes Mechanical Pumping Efficiency
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
Tissues and Organs
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.14364