The present investigation was undertaken to examine some aspects of ovarian maturation and its regulation by the neuroendocrine system of the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator. In vivo studies in which extracts of thoracic ganglia were injected into intact and eyestalkless females, revealed the presence of OSH in Uca. Furthermore, OSH showed seasonal activity with regard to the annual reproductive cycle Studies of the effect of OSH, OIH and cyclic AMP on protein synthesis in the ovary were conducted in vitro by an organ culture method. Eyestalk tissue and cAMP decreased radioactive leucine incorporation into newly synthesized protein in previtellogenic ovaries but had no effect on protein synthesis in maturing ovaries. The thoracic ganglion inhibited protein synthesis in both previtellogenic ovaries and maturing ovaries A critical examination was made of the role of the ovary in the synthesis of yolk protein, vitellin. Maturing ovaries incorporated radioactive leucine into newly synthesized vitellin in vitro. Two subunits of vitellin were isolated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Their molecular weights are 77,700D and 87,700D The electrophoretic profiles of hemolymph from crabs in various stages of ovarian development were determined under denaturing conditions. Two female-specific polypeptides were observed in the hemolymph of crabs undergoing vitellogenesis and those having mature ovaries. Neither one was present in males or females with previtellogenic ovaries. It appears then that females of Uca pugilator undergo both intraovarian and extraovarian yolk protein synthesis / acase@tulane.edu
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_25003 |
| Date | January 1984 |
| Contributors | Eastman-Reks, Sarah (Author) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Access requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law |
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