STRUCTURE AND CELL-TYPE DISTRIBUTION IN THE PITUITARY-GLAND OF PEJERREY ODONTESTHES BONARIENSIS

Antisera raised against piscine pituitary hormones and heterologous an tisera against mammalian pituitary hormones were used to analyze the t ypes and distribution patterns of cells in the adenohypophysis of peje rrey Odontesthes bonariensis. Prolactin (PRL) cells were immunostained in the external border of the rostral pars distalis using anti-chum s almon PRL and anti-carp PRL. Immunoreactive (ir-)corticotrophic (ACTH) cells were identified in the same area using anti-human ACTH and cros s-reactivity was observed in the pars intermedia (PI), corresponding t o the presumptive melanocyte-stimulating hormone cells. Ir-growth horm one (GH) cells were identified in close contact with the neuro-hypophy sis in the proximal pars distalis (PPD) using anti-chum salmon GH and anti-carp GH antisera. Ir-gonadotrophic (GtH) cells were distributed i n the PPD and in the external area of the PI. Two forms of GtH were id entified using antisera raised against chum salmon GtH I beta and GtH II beta and anti-croaker maturational GtH. Ir-thyroid-stimulating horm one (TSH) cells were revealed with an anti-human TSH beta antiserum in the PPD. Ir-somatolactin (SL) cells were detected in the PI using two antisera raised against chum salmon and red drum SL.