INDUCTION OF SPAWNING AND OOCYTE MATURATION IN STARFISH BY 1-METHYL-ADENOSINE MONOPHOSPHATE |
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Authors: | HIROKO SHIRAI HARUO KANATANI |
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Affiliation: | Laboratory of Physiology, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164, Japan |
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Abstract: | l-Methyladenosine monophosphate (l-McAMP) induces ovulation and oocyte maturation when applied to isolated ovarian fragments of Asterina pectinifera . However, isolated oocytes fail to mature even in the presence of this substance. When ovarian or testis fragments are incubated with l-McAMP, the supernatant of the incubation mixture acquires the maturation-inducing activity. Also, superantants of gonadal homogenates incubated with l-McAMP have the capacity to convert it to a maturation-inducing substance, suggesting that l-McAMP is decomposed to l-methyladenine, which is believed to be a general inducer of oocyte maturation and ovulation in starfishes. Thus l-MeAMP seems to be an intermediate in l-methyladenine formation when the latter is produced under the influence of the gonad-stimulating hormonal peptide. |
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