Induction of sea cucumber oocyte maturation by starfish radial nerve extracts

✍ Scribed by Maruyama, Yoshihiko K.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 654 KB
• Volume: 238
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.1402380214

✦ Synopsis

Cross-reactivity of maturation-inducing factors was studied between sea cucumbers and starfish. Radial nerve extracts from both sea cucumbers and starfish induce maturation in ovarian oocytes associated with follicle cells but not in follicle-free oocytes. Radial nerve extracts of sea cucumbers did not induce maturation in ovarian oocytes or follicle-free oocytes of starfish. In contrast, radial nerve extracts of starfish induce maturation of both ovarian oocytes and follicle-free oocytes of sea cucumbers. Based on protease sensitivity and elution patterns on Sephadex G-15 or G-50 columns, the active factor from starfish radial nerve extracts appears to be peptides similar in molecular weight to starfish gonad-stimulating substance (GSS). Additionally, 1-MeAde, a non-species-specific maturation-inducing substance in starfishes, had no maturation-inducing effects on sea cucumber oocytes. It was concluded that starfish radial nerve extracts contain a substanceb) which induces maturation of sea cucumber follicle-free oocytes, and sea cucumber oocyte maturation is regulated by substances different from those in starfish.