Variations in the levels of asterone and asterogenol, two steroids from the saponins of the starfish, Asterias vulgaris (Verrill).
The levels of two steroids, asterone 1 and asterogenol 4, obtained by hydrolysis of the crude asterosaponin mixture from the starfish Asterias vulgaris, were highest in winter and spring, then the steroid levels fell to their annual minima in July, after the spawning period. Levels also varied geographically, but the ratio of these steroids remained approximately constant.
D000818:Animals; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism; D011283:Pregnenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012503:Saponins / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D013215:Starfish / Q000378:metabolism*
D011283:Pregnenes; D012503:Saponins; C012754:asterone; C046266:asterogenol