CHEMICAL STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUCTION OF OOCYTE MATURATION AND SPAWNING IN STAREISHES

Abstract

Effects of various adenine derivatives on oocyte maturation and spawning were studied in the starfishes, Marthasterias glacialis, Astropecten aurantiacus, Patiria miniata, Asterina pectinifera and Asterias forbesi. 1‐Methyladenine and 1‐ethyladenine were very effective in inducing oocyte maturation and spawning, whereas the following related compounds had no effect: adenine, 3‐methyladenine, 7‐methyl‐adenine, 9‐methyladenine, 1‐methylguanine, 1‐methylhypoxanthine, 6‐methylpurine, N6‐methyladenine, N6‐ dimethyladenine, N6‐benzyladenine, N6‐furfuryladenine(kinetin), adenosine, 5′ ‐adenylic acid, adenosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate, adenosine triphos‐phate, inosine, 5′‐inocinic acid, guanine, guanosine, 5′‐guanylic acid, hypoxanthine, xanthine, xanthosine, 3‐methylcytidine and 5‐methylcytosine. 1‐Methyladenosine induced oocyte maturation and spawning when isolated ovarian fragments were used as assay material; however, it had little effect in inducing maturation of isolated oocytes. Therefore, this compound seems to active only after its decomposition to 1‐methyladenine and ribose. The chemical structure responsible for inducing oocyte maturation and spawning in starfishes is proposed: a short alkyl radical such as methyl or ethyl at N1 site and an imino radical at C6 site of the purine nucleus. Copyright © 1971, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved