Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development and aging of the teleost pituitary: qualitative and quantitative observations in the annual cyprinodont Cynolebias whitei

  • Published:
Anatomy and Embryology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The rapidly aging annual cyprinodont Cynolebias whitei (maximum age under natural conditions: approximately six months) was used to study the histology and growth of the pituitary gland throughout the entire lifespan of a teleost fish. Immunoreactive prolactin and corticotropic cells were present in the prehatching larvae. Somatotropic cells and pars intermedia could be distinguished by histological staining in five days old fish. After three weeks basophilic, GTH-immunoreactive, cells could be observed in the proximal pars distalis while in five weeks old fish PAS-positive and melanotropic cells could be distinguished in the pars intermedia. A weakly chromophilic and GTH-immunoreactive cell type appeared in the proximal pars distalis of 6 weeks old fish. These cells were identified as thyrotropic cells. In fish older than four months cysts and haemorrhagia appeared in all parts of the pituitary gland. Allometric (log-log) plots of fish length and pituitary volume revealed two inflections in the slope of the regression line. Such inflections indicate stanzas (stages or periods) in fish growth. Both inflections found in this study reflect an increased rate of pituitary growth in relation to the growth rate of body length in the subsequent stanzas. The first inflection occurs at about three weeks, coincides with the appearance of GTH-immunoreactive cells and probably represents the onset of maturation. The second inflection occurs at four months and is followed by pituitary hyperplasia and histological deteriorations. This inflection is considered to reflect the onset of aging.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Belsare DK (1976) Studies on the development of endocrine glands in fishes. I: Development of the hypothalamo-hypophysial neurosecretory system in Clarias batrachus L. Z Mikrosk Anat Forsch 90: 469–483

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin M (1978) Cytological changes in prolactin, ACTH and growth hormone cells of the pituitary gland of Pungitius pungitius L. in respons to increased environmental salinities. Gen Comp Endocrinol 36:48–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin M (1981a) The origin of pituitary cysts in the rostral pars distalis of the nine-spined Stickleback, Pungitius pungitius L. Cell Tissue Res 214:417–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin M (1981b) Factors associated with the seasonal variation in the incidence of pituitary cysts in nine-spined Sticklebacks, Pungitius pungitius L. Acta Zool 62:121–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin M (1981c) Cysts (large follicles) and colloid in pituitary glands. Gen Comp Endocrinol 45:425–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin M (1985) Experimental studies on cysts in the prolactin zone of the pituitary in the nine-spined Stickleback, Pungitius pungitius L. J Comp Pathol 95:57–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin M, William JG (1979) Pituitary cysts in the nine-spined Stickleback Pungitius pungitius L. I. Seasonal changes and salinity transfer experiments. Acta Zool 60:233–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Comfort A (1961) The expected rate of senescence and age-dependent mortality in fish. Nature 191:822–823

    Google Scholar 

  • Daborn GR, Gregory RS (1983) Occurrence, distribution and feeding habits of juvenile lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus, in the bay of Fundy, Canada. Can J Zool 61:797–801

    Google Scholar 

  • Egawa K, Aoki K, Yamamoto Y (1980) Development of the pituitary and thyroid gland in the Medaka Oryzias latipes. Zool Mag 89:104–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Fontaine YA, Burzawa-Gerard E (1977) Esquisse de l'evolution des hormones gonadotropes et thyreotropes de vertébrés. Gen Comp Endocrinol 32:341–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Goos HJTh, Seldenrijk R, Peute J (1976) The gonadotropic cells in the pituitary of the black molly, Mollienisia latipinna, and other teleosts, identified by the immunofluorescence technique in normal and androgen treated animals. Cell Tissue Res 167:211–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant CJ, Spain AV (1975) Reproduction, growth and size allometry of Mugil cephalus Linnaeus. Aust J Zool 23:181–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Guma'a SA (1978) On the early growth of O + perch Perca fluviatilis, in Windermere. Fresh Water Biol 8:213–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes RL, Ball JN (1974) The pituitary gland; a comparative account. Cambridge University Press, London, pp 170–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Ichikawa T, Kobayashi H, Zimmermann P, Müller U (1973) Pituitary response to environmental osmotic changes in the larval Guppy Lebistes reticulatus (Peters). Z Zellforsch 141: 161–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr T (1940) On the ontogenesis of some teleost pituitaries. Proc R Soc Edinb 60:224–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Kormann J (1982) Allometrische Untersuchungen am Subkommissuralorgan von Knochenfischen. Zool Anz 209:73–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Laird AK, Barton AD, Tyler SA (1968) Growth and time: an interpretation of allometry. Growth 32:347–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Leatherland JF (1970a) Seasonal variation in the structure and ultrastructure of the pituitary of the marine form (trachurus) of the three-spine Stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L. I. Rostral pars distalis. Z Zellforsch 104:301–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Leatherland JF (1970b) — II. Proximal pars distalis and neurointemediate lobe. Z Zellforsch 104:318–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Margolis-Kazan H, Schreibman MP (1984) Sexually dimorphic, age-related changes in pituitary gonadotrop distribution. Mech Ageing Dev 24:325–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers GS (1942) Studies on South American fresh water fishes I. Stanford Ichthyol Bull 2:89–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Nozaki M, Tatsumi Y, Ichikawa T (1974) Histological changes in the prolactin cells of the raibow Trout, Salmo gairdneri irideus, at the time of hatching. Ann Zool Jpn 47:15–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Oikawa S, Itazawa Y (1985) Gill and body surface areas of the carp in relation to body mass, with special reference to the metabolism-size relationship. J Exp Biol 117:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricker WE (1979) Growth rates and models. In: Hoar WS, Randall DJ, Brett JR (eds) Fish physiology. Vol. VIII. Academic Press New York, pp 677–743

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson OH, Wexler BC (1962a) Histological changes in the pituitary gland of the rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdnerii) accompanying sexual maturation and spawning. J Morphology 110:157–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson OH, Wexler BC (1962b) Histological changes in the pituitary gland of the pacific salmon (genus Oncorhynchus) accompanying sexual maturation and spawning. J Morphology 110:171–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson OH, Wexler BC (1962c) Histological changes in the organs and tissues of senile castrated Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka kennerlyi). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2:458–472

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruijter JM, Wendelaar Bonga SE (1986) Allometric relations of prolactin cells and ACTH cells to body length in the annual cyprinodont Cynolebias whitei: effects of environmental salinity, stress and aging (submitted)

  • Rujiter JM, Van Kemenade JAM, Wendelaar Bonga SE (1984) Environmental inflences on prolactin cell development in the cyprinodont fish, Cynolebias whitei. Cell Tissue Res 238:595–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruijter JM, Peute J, Levels PJ (1986) The relation between pituitary gland and thyroid growth during the lifespan of the annual fish Cynolebias whitei and Nothobranchius korthausae: gonadotropic and thyrotropic cells. Cell Tissue Res (in press)

  • Schoots AFM, De Bont RG, Van Eijs GJJM, Denucé JM (1982) Evidence for a stimulating effect of prolactin on teleostean hatching enzyme secretion. J Exp Zool 219:129–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoots AFM, Ruijter JM, Van Kemenade JAM, Denucé JM (1983) Immunoreactive prolactin in the pituitary gland of cyprinodont fish at the time of hatching. Cell Tissue Res 233:611–618

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreibman MP (1966) Hypophyseal cysts in a teleost fish. J Exp Zool 162:57–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreibman MP, Margolis-Kazan H (1979) The immunocytochemical localisation of gonadotropin, its subunits, and thyrotropin in the teleost, Xiphophorus maculatus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 39:467–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreibman MP, Leatherland JF, McKeown BA (1973) Functional morphology of the teleost pituitary gland. Am Zool 13:719–742

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreibman MP, Margolis-Kazan H, Halpern-Sebold L (1982) Immunoreactive gonadotropin and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone in the pituitary gland of neonatal Platyfish. Gen Comp Endocrinol 47:385–391

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreibman MP, Margolis-Kazan H, Bloom JL, Kallman KD (1983) Continued reproductive potential in aging Platyfish as demonstrated by the persistence of gonadotropin, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and spermatogenesis. Mech Ageing Dev 22:105–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson BRC (1979) The phenology of annual killifishes. In: Miller PJ (ed) Fish Phenology. Symp Zool Soc Lond 44:243–261

  • Simpson GG, Roe A, Lewontin RC (1960) Quantitative zoology. Harbourt, Brace & World, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Snedecor GW, Cochran WG (1980) Statistical methods. The Iowa State University Press, Ames, pp 365–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (1969) Biometry. The principles and practice of statistics in biological research. WH Freeman and Co, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueda H, Young G, Nagahama Y (1983) Immunocytochemical identification of thyrotropin (TSH)-producing cells in the pituitary glands of several species of teleosts with antiserum to human TSH β subunit. Cell Tissue Res 231:199–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Putten LJA, Van Zwieten MJ, Van Kemenade JAM (1986) Studies on prolactin-secreting cells in aging rats of different strains. II. Selected morphological and immunocytochemical features of pituitary tumors correlated with serum prolactin levels (submitted)

  • Weatherley AH, Gill HS (1983) Relative growth of tissues at different somatic growth rates in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. J Fish Biol 22:43–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Weibel ER (1979) Stereological methods, vol 1. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodhead AD (1979) Senescence in fishes. In: Miller PJ (ed) Fish Phenology. Symp Zool Soc (Lond) 44:179–205

  • Woodhead AD, Ellett S (1967) Eudocrine aspects of ageing in the Guppy, Lebistes reticulatus (Peters). II. The interrenal gland. Exp Gerontol 2:159–171

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, NL-6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    J. M. Ruijter

Authors
  1. J. M. Ruijter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ruijter, J.M. Development and aging of the teleost pituitary: qualitative and quantitative observations in the annual cyprinodont Cynolebias whitei . Anat Embryol 175, 379–386 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309851

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309851

Key words

Search

Navigation