Neuronal peptides induce oocyte maturation and gamete spawning of sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus

Extracts prepared from tissues containing buccal ring nerve or longitudinal radial nerve of sea cucumber induce oocyte maturation and ovulation from ovarian tissues. We purified two small peptides, a pentapeptide and a heptapeptide, from the buccal tissues of Japanese common sea cucumber, Apostichop...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental biology 2009-02, Vol.326 (1), p.169-176
Main Authors: Kato, Shinichi, Tsurumaru, Saori, Taga, Makoto, Yamane, Tomoki, Shibata, Yasushi, Ohno, Kaoru, Fujiwara, Atushi, Yamano, Keisuke, Yoshikuni, Michiyasu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Apostichopus japonicus
Aquaculture
Female
Fertilization - drug effects
Fertilization - physiology
Germ Cells - drug effects
Germ Cells - physiology
Holothurioidea
Marine
Neuropeptides - pharmacology
Neurotransmitter
NGIWYamide
NGLWYamide
Oocyte maturation
Oocytes - drug effects
Oocytes - physiology
Oogenesis - drug effects
Oogenesis - physiology
Ovulation
Reproduction
Sea cucumber
Spawning
Stichopus - physiology
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Summary:Extracts prepared from tissues containing buccal ring nerve or longitudinal radial nerve of sea cucumber induce oocyte maturation and ovulation from ovarian tissues. We purified two small peptides, a pentapeptide and a heptapeptide, from the buccal tissues of Japanese common sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicas. Both peptides induced oocyte maturation and gamete spawning. The pentapeptide was identified as NGIWYamide. This peptide induced in vitro germinal vesicle breakdown and ovulation of fully-grown oocytes at less than 1 pM and in vivo spawning at 10 nM. A synthetic derivative of the pentapeptide, NGLWYamide, was 10–100 times more potent compared to the natural NGIWYamide. The heptapeptide was less potent, inducing ovulation at 1 μM. NGIWYamide and NGLWYamide induced a characteristic spawning behavior when injected into sexually matured individuals. Mature eggs artificially spawned were fertilized, and developed normally and metamorphosed into young sea cucumbers. The details of the production and the mechanism of action of NGIWYamide are still unclear, but the high biopotency of the peptide will aid understanding of the neuronal and hormonal control of reproduction of sea cucumber.
ISSN:0012-1606
1095-564X
DOI:10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.11.003