Ultrastructural analysis of oocyte lysis and phagocytic activity in gonads ofAsterina gibbosaP. (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

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Abstract
Oocyte lysis takes place only in large, mature oocytes or during vitellogenesis. There are two processes: autolysis of part of the yolk and phagocytosis of the remains of oocytes by numerous somatic cells. The somatic cells become vesicular with digestion of the phagosomes. The degraded products of digestion are expelled from the vesicles into the gonadal cavity, especially near the microvilli of the vitellogenic oocytes. Lysis is frequency observed in the winter, probably as a result of low temperature. This may explain the difference in oogenic development between Asterinidae and most other asteroids.