nurse cells
From ZooTerms (Dictionary of Invertebrate Zoology)
nurse cells: 1. Cells of developing oocytes that provide material for further growth; trophocytes.
2. (Arthropoda: Insecta) In some species, the nurse cells synthesize nucleic acids and possibly protein and supply them to the oocyte via intercytoplasmic connections.
3. (NEMATA) A specialized plant response to feeding sessile forms, characterized by special feeding cells around the nemas' head that are not subject to necrosis; giant cells.
4. (Porifera) The archaeocytes.
