title: Immunocytochemistry of somatotrophs, gonadotrophs, prolactin and adrenocorticotropin cells in larval sea bream (Sparus auratus) pituitaries.
abstract: The chronological appearance of endocrine cells in the pituitary of sea-bream (Sparus auratus) larvae was studied using antisera against salmon prolactin, trout growth hormone, salmon gonadotropin and N-terminal human adrenocorticotropin. The larval pituitary (1-12 days after hatching) was oval in shape and was composed of a dense mass of cells with few neurohypophysial fibres. By 60 days after hatching it began to resemble the adult and was divisible into a distinct rostral pars distalis containing prolactin and adrenocorticotropin cells; a proximal pars distalis containing somatotrophs and gonadotrophs and a pars intermedia. Cells immunoreactive with antisera against growth hormone were observed immediately after hatching (2 days post-fertilization). Weakly staining prolactin cells were observed 2 days later in the region corresponding to the rostral pars distalis. Cells immunoreactive with antigonadotropin and anti-adrenocorticotropin sera were observed in the pituitary 6 and 8 days after hatching, respectively. All the cell-types studied were immunoreactive from the time they were first identified until the final samples 90 days after hatching.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Ciências e Tecnologias dos Recursos Aquáticos, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Canario
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000378:metabolism; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism; D010473:Perciformes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone