IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF FSH AND LH IN THE PITUITARY OF MALE RUIN LIZARDS (PODARCIS-SICULA CAMPESTRIS DE-BETTA)

The pars distalis from the pituitary gland of adult male ruin lizards (Podarcis sicula campestris De Betta), captured during the reproductiv e period (May and June), was studied immunohistochemically using speci fic antibodies against hFSH beta, hLH beta and oLH beta with the avidi n-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) procedure to determine the localizat ion of both gonadotropins The immunostaining with anti-hFSH beta and a nti-hLH beta allowed identification of morphologically distinct FSH co ntaining cells and LH containing cells, whereas anti-oLH beta serum sh owed cross-reactivity with cells immunostained with the anti-hFSH beta and anti-hLH beta sera. The gonadotropic cells took up approximativel y 10.5% of the area of the pars distalis: 10% was positive for FSH, wh ereas only 0.5% was positive for LH. The FSH cells were distributed th roughout the pars distalis, whereas the LH cells were only located in the rostral region. Double-immunostaining procedure did not reveal cel ls containing both gonadotropic hormones. The findings indicate that F SH and LH are produced in separate pituitary cells.