IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MAMMALIAN THYROTROPIN-LIKE MATERIAL IN THE PITUITARY OF THE AUSTRALIAN LUNGFISH, NEOCERATODUS-FORSTERI
Gn. Hansen et Bl. Hansen, IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MAMMALIAN THYROTROPIN-LIKE MATERIAL IN THE PITUITARY OF THE AUSTRALIAN LUNGFISH, NEOCERATODUS-FORSTERI, Cell and tissue research, 294(3), 1998, pp. 515-523
The binding sites of polyclonal antisera raised against the beta-subun
it of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (hTSH beta), hTSH, and ovine T
SH (oTSH) have been localized in the pituitary gland of the Australian
lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, using light microscopy. Reactivity t
oward anti-TSH antiserum was demonstrated in a slightly elongated and
irregularly-shaped distinct cell type forming clusters in the dorso-ce
ntral and ventral regions of the distal lobe. Their granules react wit
h alcian blue (AB), and with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), and after AB-
PAS-orange G they stain blue or purple. The specificity of the differe
nt antisera was established by liquid-phase absorptions and confirmed
in positive and negative tissue control systems. Our observations conf
irm that dipnoan (Neoceratodus) TSH shares a number of antigenic deter
minants with those of mammalian TSH beta and support the concept that
mammalian TSH beta, or part of it, was established early in evolution,
and that dipnoans (Neoceratodus) as living sarcopterygians may have a
n ancestor in common with the early amphibians. The mapping and detail
ed description of TSH-like immunoreactive cells may furnish a backgrou
nd to facilitate current and future analysis of the ontogeny and time
course of TSH production and release in Neoceratodus in relation to di
fferent physiological conditions.