INDUCTION OF OOCYTE MATURATION BY DISULFIDE-REDUCING AGENT IN THE SEA CUCUMBER, STICHOPUS JAPONICUS

Abstract
1-Methyladenine (1-MeAde) is a natural inducer of starfish oocyte maturation. Disulfide-reducing agents such as dithiothreitol (DTT) and 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol (BAL) mimic the action of 1-MeAde in inducing starfish oocyte maturation. Although 1-MeAde failed to induce oocyte maturation in sea cucumbers, breakdown of germinal vesicles and subsequent meiotic behavior of chromosomes were induced by the treatment with DTT in the pronase-treated oocytes of the sea cucumber, S. japonicus. Reduction of disulfide bond may play an important role in triggering oocyte maturation in some marine forms such as echinoderms.