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A systematic immunohistochemical survey of the distribution patterns of GH, prolactin, somatolactin, β–TSH, β–FSH, β–LH, ACTH, and α–MSH in the adenohypophysis of Oreochromis niloticus, the Nile tilapia

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Abstract

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 (β–TSH), follicle–stimulating hormone (β–FSH), luteinising hormone (β–LH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and melanocyte–stimulating hormone (α–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 β–TSH–immunoreactive cells, and β–LH–immunoreactive cells covered approximately the remaining parts. Centrally, β–FSH–immunoreactive cells were detected in the vicinity of the GH–containing cells. Some of these cells also displayed β–LH immunoreactivity. The pars intermedia was characterised by branches of the PN surrounded by SL–containing and α–MSH–immunoreactive cells.The ACTH and α–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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof. N. Maclean, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK, and Dr. Jean-François Baroiller and Mr. Frédéric Clota, CIRAD, Montpellier, France for providing fish, and Mrs. Elisabeth Katz and Mrs. Gunthild Krey for skilful technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich, CH–8057, Switzerland

    Romano Silvio Kasper, Natallia Shved, Manfred Reinecke & Elisabeth Eppler

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, School of Fisheries Sciences, Kitasato University, Ofunato, Iwate, Japan

    Akiyoshi Takahashi

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  1. Romano Silvio Kasper
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  2. Natallia Shved
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  3. Akiyoshi Takahashi
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  4. Manfred Reinecke
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  5. Elisabeth Eppler
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Correspondence to Elisabeth Eppler.

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This work was supported by the SNF (NRP 50, project 4050–66580) and by the Hartmann Müller-Stiftung für Medizinische Forschung an der Universität Zürich (grant no. 972).

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Kasper, R.S., Shved, N., Takahashi, A. et al. A systematic immunohistochemical survey of the distribution patterns of GH, prolactin, somatolactin, β–TSH, β–FSH, β–LH, ACTH, and α–MSH in the adenohypophysis of Oreochromis niloticus, the Nile tilapia. Cell Tissue Res 325, 303–313 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-005-0119-7

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