Action of CMF (coelomic maturation factor) on oocytes of the polychaeteArenicola marina (L.)

✍ Scribed by Watson, G. J.; Bentley, M. G.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 138 KB
• Volume: 281
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-010x(19980501)281:1<65::aid-jez9>3.0.co;2-a

✦ Synopsis

Oocyte maturation in the lugworm Arenicola marina is controlled by two hormonal steps: a prostomial maturation hormone and a coelomic maturation factor (CMF). Oocyte maturation and spawning follows release of the maturation hormone from the prostomium and the appearance of CMF activity within the coelomic fluid.

In this study, injection of female prostomial homogenate into gravid females induced the production of CMF after approximately 1 to 2 h. Once induced, CMF activity remained for 1 to 4 h. Titres of CMF assayed in vitro between females also varied. CMF in some females induced 100% of oocytes to mature, whereas CMF removed from others induced only about 30% maturation. Oocytes required an exposure time of approximately 20 min to CMF before maturation is able to proceed independently. Optimal CMF activity in vitro was observed at temperatures at or below 10°C.

CMF has already been shown to be thermolabile and have a molecular mass greater than 10 kDa. CMF is shown here to be trypsin sensitive and to have a molecular mass of greater than 30 kDa, suggesting a proteinaceous nature.