A systematic immunohistochemical survey of the distribution patterns of GH, prolactin, somatolactin, beta-TSH, beta-FSH, beta-LH, ACTH, and alpha-MSH in the adenohypophysis of Oreochromis niloticus, the Nile tilapia.
Fish pituitary plays a central role in the control of growth, development, reproduction and adaptation to the environment. Several types of hormone-secreting adenohypophyseal cells have been characterised and localised in diverse teleost species. The results suggest a similar distribution pattern among the species investigated. However, most studies deal with a single hormone or hormone family. Thus, we studied adjacent sections of the pituitary of Oreochromis niloticus, the tilapia, by conventional staining and immunohistochemistry with specific antisera directed against growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), somatolactin (SL), thyrotropin (beta-TSH), follicle-stimulating hormone (beta-FSH), luteinising hormone (beta-LH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). The pituitary was characterised by a close interdigitating neighbourhood of neurohypophysis (PN) and adenohypophysis. PRL-immunoreactive and ACTH-immunoreactive cells were detected in the rostral pars distalis. GH-immunoreactive cells were present in the proximal pars distalis (PPD). A small region of the PPD contained beta-TSH-immunoreactive cells, and beta-LH-immunoreactive cells covered approximately the remaining parts. Centrally, beta-FSH-immunoreactive cells were detected in the vicinity of the GH-containing cells. Some of these cells also displayed beta-LH immunoreactivity. The pars intermedia was characterised by branches of the PN surrounded by SL-containing and alpha-MSH-immunoreactive cells. The ACTH and alpha-MSH antisera were observed to cross-react with the respective antigens. This cross-reactivity was abolished by pre-absorption. We present a complete map of the distinct localisation sites for the classical pituitary hormones, thereby providing a solid basis for future research on teleost pituitary.
Division of Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich, CH-8057, Switzerland.
Romano Silvio
RS
Kasper
Natallia
N
Shved
Akiyoshi
A
Takahashi
Manfred
M
Reinecke
Elisabeth
E
Eppler
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D037101:Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037322:Thyrotropin, beta Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017210:Tilapia; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D029941:Fish Proteins; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037101:Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D037322:Thyrotropin, beta Subunit; C064448:somatolactin protein, fish; D000521:alpha-MSH; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone