Uric acid : The sperm-release pheromone of the marine polychaete Platynereis dumerilii

In the marine polychaete, Platynereis dumerilii, reproductive behavior in the two sexes is synchronized by the consecutive discharge of male and female sex-specific pheromones. After the female releases the eggs into the free water column, immediate fertilization is achieved by several males circlin...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical ecology 1998, Vol.24 (1), p.13-22
Main Authors: ZEECK, E, HARDER, T, BECKMANN, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Bioassays
Biological and medical sciences
Chromatography
Eggs
Females
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Liquid chromatography
Pheromones
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Sexual behavior
Sperm
Ultrafiltration
Water column
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In the marine polychaete, Platynereis dumerilii, reproductive behavior in the two sexes is synchronized by the consecutive discharge of male and female sex-specific pheromones. After the female releases the eggs into the free water column, immediate fertilization is achieved by several males circling around the eggs emitting sperm clouds. We report the isolation and identification of the sperm-release pheromone present in the coelomic fluid of sexually mature females. Each step in isolation was guided by bioassay. Isolation methods included extraction and solvent partitioning and separation methods included ultrafiltration and high-performance liquid chromatography. Uric acid was identified as the sperm-release pheromone that is discharged by the female with release of the eggs. The threshold concentration for sperm release by males was determined as 0.6 μM.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0098-0331
1573-1561
DOI:10.1023/A:1022328610423