Int. J. Dev. Biol. 37: 363 - 364 (1993)

Vol 37, Issue 2

The control of oocyte maturation in the starfish and amphibians by serotonin and its antagonists

Published: 1 June 1993

G A Buznikov, L A Nikitina, A Y Galanov, L A Malchenko and O B Trubnikova

N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.

Abstract

Serotonin acts as antagonist of progesterone on amphibian oocytes. Serotonin antagonists inhibit maturation of starfish oocytes and stimulate or trigger maturation in amphibians. We propose that endogenous serotonin participates in the control of oocyte maturation.