Concanavalin A: its action in inducing Oocyte maturation-inducing substance in starfish follicle cells.

Maturation of starfish oocytes is induced by 1-methyladenine produced in follicle cells under the influence of a gonad-stimulating hormonal peptide released from the nervous system. Concanavalin A stimulates isolated follicle cells to produce 1-methyladenine, which suggests that it has the same capacity as the peptide hormone to indirectly induce oocyte maturation.