The parasitic castration of the mussel Mytilus edvlis by the trematode parasite Prosorhynchus squamatus: specificity and partial characterization of endogenous and parasite-induced anti-mitotic activities

Abstract

1. 1. Prosorhynchus squamatus invariably castrates its host, Mytilus edulis. 2. 2. The tissue and species specificities of the action of uninfested M. edulis—mantle extracts and P. squamatus—sporocyst extracts have been tested in vitro. 3. 3. Both extracts inhibited gonadial mitosis in M. edulis M. galloprovincialis and Pecten maximus. 4. 4. Only the parasite extract inhibited gonial mitosis in Ostrea edulis. 5. 5. Both extracts inhibited mitosis in dispersed M. edulis mantle-edge cell suspensions (somatic tissue). Neither extract affected protein synthesis by this cell preparation. 6. 6. The activities from the two sources both had an apparent M r of 2–3.5 kDa.