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7368501 
Journal Article 
Reproductive cycle of Antedon mediterranea (Crinoidea, Echinodermata): correlation between morphology and physiology 
Barbaglio, A; Biressi, A; Melone, G; Bonasoro, F; Lavado, R; Porte, C; Carnevali, MDC 
2009 
1 
Zoomorphology
ISSN: 0720-213X
EISSN: 1432-234X 
128 
2 
119-134 
WOS:000264885000002 
Gonads of the mediterranean crinoid Antedon mediterranea were analyzed in order to reconstruct their histological organization. The tissue arrangement resembled that previously described in other crinoids. Five reproductive stages were identified in both males and females: recovery, growing, premature, mature, spent. Sexually dimorphic characters were observed at the gonopore level. Hermaphroditic individuals were never detected. There were novel findings concerning somatic accessory cells of the gonads. The reproductive cycle periodicity was indicated by analysis of reproductive stage frequencies in the period 2003-2005: spring and winter were the seasons with highest and lowest maturity levels, respectively. A role in the regulation of reproduction was hypothesized for testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol, which were found to be present in A. mediterranea tissues and to vary during the reproductive cycle, thus suggesting a correlation between steroid levels and morphologically recognizable reproductive stages. 
Echinoderms; Oogenesis; Spermatogenesis; Testosterone; Estradiol