Electric-induced reversal of morphogenesis in Hydra

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that external electric fields can halt and reverse Hydra morphogenesis, with electrical excitations and calcium activity playing key roles in directing developmental processes.

Contribution

It reveals that external electric fields can modulate and reverse morphogenesis in Hydra, highlighting electrical processes as instructive factors in development.

Findings

Electric fields above a critical amplitude halt Hydra morphogenesis.

Electric fields can reverse Hydra to its incipient spheroid form.

Electrical excitations and calcium activity are involved in reversal dynamics.

Abstract

Morphogenesis involves the dynamic interplay of biochemical, mechanical and electrical processes. Here we ask: to what extent can the course of morphogenesis be modulated and controlled by an external electric field? We show that above a critical amplitude, an external electric field can halt morphogenesis in Hydra regeneration. Moreover, above this critical amplitude, the electric field can even lead to reversal dynamics: a fully developed Hydra folds back into its incipient spheroid morphology. The potential to renew morphogenesis is re-exposed when the field is reduced back to amplitudes below criticality. These dynamics are accompanied by modulations of the Wnt3 activity, a central component of the head organizer in Hydra. Reversal of morphogenesis is shown to be triggered by enhanced epithelial electrical excitations, accompanied by intensified calcium activity, indicating that electrical processes play an instructive role to a level that can direct developmental trajectories. Reversal of morphogenesis by external fields, calls for extending its framework beyond programmatic, forward-driven, hierarchical processes.