Endocrine and environmental control of reproduction in Polychaeta

Abstract

In Polychaeta, as in many invertebrates, reproduction is controlled by both environmental and endocrine factors. Although the effects of environmental factors on reproductive behaviour are briefly discussed, this review focuses on the endocrinology of reproduction. As Nereidae are the most intensively studied polychaetes, their epigamic monotelic strategy is discussed first in this review. Although a large number of physiological observations have been made, biochemical data have been greatly lacking until recent years, except, however, for the recent isolation of several pheromones. These substances, such as uric acid and L-cysteine gluthathione disulfide, occur widely and must be present at high concentrations in order to exert their physiological effects. Results obtained from iteroparous species are also considered. The stolonization strategy of Syllidae, the control of vitellogenesis in Nephtyidae, Phyllodocidae, Polynoidae, and Cirratulidae, and the regulation of gamete maturation in Arenicolidae and Pectinariidae are discussed. As with Nereidae, our knowledge of endocrine control is mainly based on experimental data, since only sperm-maturation factor in the genus Arenicola has been identified. Therefore, despite numerous interesting experimental studies in which functional roles for polychaete reproductive hormones have been described, their nature, their primary targets, and their mechanism of action are unfortunately still largely unknown.