Sclerocytes are specialised cells that secrete the mineralized structures in the body wall of some invertebrates.
In sponges they secrete calcareous or siliceous spicules which are found in the mesohyl layer of sponges. The sclerocytes produce spicules via formation of a cellular triad. The triad of cells then undergo mitosis, creating six sclerocytes. In pairs, the sclerocytes secrete the minerals which create the spicules.
In starfish they are present in the dermis and secrete the calcite microcrystals from which the ossicles are formed. They also function in growth and repair of the ossicles.
References
- Imsiecke, Georg; Steffen, Renate; Custodio, Marcio; Borojevic, Radovan; Muller, Werner E. G. (1995). "Formation of spicules by sclerocytes from the freshwater sponge Ephydatia muelleri in short-trem cultures in vitro" (PDF). In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal. 31 (7): 528–535. doi:10.1007/BF02634030. PMID 8528501. S2CID 22067910.
- Ruppert, Edward E.; Fox, Richard, S.; Barnes, Robert D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology, 7th edition. Cengage Learning. p. 875. ISBN 81-315-0104-3.
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