Induction de la maturation sexuelle chez la Planaire scissipare Dugesia gonocephala (Turbellarié, Triclade)
Induction of sexual maturity in a fissiparous Planarian, Dugesia gonocephala The planarian Dugesia gonocephala reproduces either sexually, or asexually by fission, according to the presence or absence of a genital apparatus. The experimental induction of sexual maturity in a fissiparous planarian can be obtained by grafting a piece of a planarian with a genital pore containing mature testes, whether they are testes existing in the graft before the operation (grafts of testes) or testes differentiated in the piece after grafting (grafts of ovaries). Grafts of cephalic or caudal region, and pieces of a planarian without genital pore, cannot induce this maturation and cannot differentiate testes. The induction of testicular structures seems to be dependent on hormones. The development of a genital apparatus in a planarian without genital pore is accompanied by the disappearance of fission.