Is there gonadal stimulation hormone in sea urchins?

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Sea urchin gonadal growth is characterized by intragonadal nutrient storage and the use of the stored nutrient for gametogenesis. Before gametogenesis initiation, gonads increase in size by accumulating nutrients such as proteins, lipids and carbohydrates in nutritive phagocytes that fill the gonadal lumina of both sexes. The major protein is termed major yolk glycoprotein or major yolk protein (MYP), which is a glycoprotein having molecular weight of 160-180 kDa, and has significant roles in gametogenesis. However, we have no information about gonadal development mechanisms, as well as the regulation mechanism on the synthesis of MYP in gonads. Therefore, to understand the mechanisms of gonadal development, we developed quantitative PCR system of MYP mRNA expression as well as an organ culture systems using sea urchin gonads. These techniques will enable a endocrinological research on gonadal developments in the sea urchin.