[In vitro study of the influence of dorsal bodies on oogenesis in Helix aspersa Müll].

Infantile gonads of Helix aspersa were cultured in vitro for 13 days, alone, associated with dorsal bodies, or with cerebral ganglia (surrounded by connective tissue containing the dorsal bodies). The results demonstrate the stimulatory effect of the dorsal bodies on oocyte growth and suggest that the cerebral ganglia have an inhibitory influence on dorsal body activity and/or on oocyte development.