The Hormonal Control of the Amphibian Ovary

The ultimate control of amphibian gonadal function rests withenvironmen tal factors mediated through the hypothalamus. Itappears that control of ovarian growth resides in the infundibularregion and ovulation in the preoptic area. For normal temporalrelationships between oocyte growth and ovulation to occur,an intact hypothalamo-pituitary complex is necessary. It isuncertain whether the several types of pituitary basophils considered,histologically as gonadotropin producing cells are in fact producingseparate LH and FSH like hormones. Perhaps the concensus indicatesa single hormone has both vitellogenic and ovulatory functions.This hormone stimulates estrogen synthesis and secretion bythe ovarian follicle cells, and this steroid causes oviductgrowth and the hepatic biosynthesis of vitellogenin, the majoryolk platelet precursor. Uptake of this lipoprotein from thecirculation and its conversion to the components of the plateletis mediated by the gonadotropin, the presence of which resultsin the establishment of a rapid micropinocytotic process atthe level of the oocyte surface and of a mechanism for crystallizationof the yolk. A sudden surge of pituitary hormone, when presentedto fully grown oocytes leads to their maturation and ovulation,and to oviducal jelly release in some species. The active hormoneis progestin in nature, again produced by the follicle cells. In this review the known factors involved in the hypothalamohypophysio ovarian axis are discussed together with some considerationof outstanding problemsand the possible relevance ot ovipantvand ovovivipanty in amphibians to the ovarian control foundin viviparous species.