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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 muM. 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.

Recent progress in an understanding of the role of thyroid hormone (TH) on fish development was reviewed with particular reference to fish farming. TH is a small liposoluble hormone produced in thyroid follicles and has two bioactive forms, tetraiodothyronine (thyroxine, T 4 ) and triiodothyronine (T 3 ). Mother fish deposits a considerable amount of TH in developing oocytes. The amount of TH and ratio of T 3 to T 4 in eggs vary among species and stocks of the same species. The role of TH in eggs is not yet clear, though enhanced survival and growth of embryos and larvae by the enrichment of the eggs with TH have been reported in some cases. On the other hand, the role of TH that promotes larvajuvenile transition or metamorphosis has been established in teleost fish. The level of TH elevates at the onset of metamorphosis, and the treatment with TH can induce precocious metamorphosis. Considering the TH role in fish development, the disorder of its proper function could lead to deformity in juveniles, which is frequently observed in hatchery. In addition, many environmental chemicals have potential disrupting TH function in developing embryos and juveniles of fish.