D-Aspartate, aspartate racemase activity, and D-aspartate oxidase activity were detected in tissues from several types of starfish. Aspartate racemase activity in male testes of Patiria pectinifera was significantly elevated in the summer months of the breeding season compared with spring months. We also compared aspartate racemase activity with the gonad index and found that activity in individuals with a gonad index ≥6% was four-fold higher than that of individuals with a gonad index <6%. The ratio of the D-form of aspartate to total aspartate was approximately 25% in testes with a gonad index <6% and this increased to approximately 40% in testes with a gonad index ≥6%. However, such changes were not observed in female ovaries. Administration of D-aspartate into male starfish caused testicular growth. These results indicate the possible involvement of aspartate racemase and D-aspartate in testicular maturation in echinoderm starfish.

中文翻译：

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海星中的天冬氨酸消旋酶和D-天冬氨酸；可能参与睾丸成熟。

在几种类型的海星的组织中检测到D-天冬氨酸，天冬氨酸消旋酶活性和D-天冬氨酸氧化酶活性。与春季月份相比，繁殖期夏季几个月中，果蝇Patiria pectinifera雄性睾丸中的天冬氨酸消旋酶活性显着提高。我们还比较了天冬氨酸消旋酶活性与性腺指数，发现性腺指数≥6％的个体的活性是性腺指数<6％的个体的四倍。在性腺指数＜6％的睾丸中，天冬氨酸的D-形式与总天冬氨酸的比率为约25％，而在性腺指数≥6％的睾丸中，D-形式的比例增加至约40％。但是，在女性卵巢中未观察到这种变化。在雄性海星中施用D-天门冬氨酸会引起睾丸生长。