Immunocytochemical and ultrastructural characterization of prolactin, growth hormone, and somatolactin cells from the Mediterranean yellowtail (Seriola dumerilii, Risso 1810)

Abstract

Background Prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), and somatolactin (SL) are structurally related pituitary hormones that belong to a peptide family. Whereas growth hormone and prolactin are present in the hypophysis of all vertebrates, somatolactin, a recently discovered hormone, has been found only in fish. It has been demonstrated immunocytochemically in a few teleost species; ultrastructurally, cells producing this hormone have been characterized only in one species of salmon. In this paper, we identify and characterize ultrastructurally the cells producing these three hormones in Mediterranean yellowtail (Seriola dumerilii). Methods Pituitaries from adult specimens were dissected out and processed for electron microscopy. The immunogold technique was performed in some ultrathin sections using fish primary antibodies. Results PRL cells had round, peripherally distributed, very electrondense, homogeneous secretory granules of variable size. GH cells had dense, round secretory granules with a conspicuous scalloped membrane, which were grouped in the cell area near the neurohypophysis. SL cells had round, polymorphic, or very irregularly shaped secretory granules, the last seeming to arise from the fusion of various secretory granules. The population of secretory granules varied greatly from one cell to another. In all cases, immunogold labeling was seen exclusively in the secretory granules. Exocytosis was observed in all cell types. Some of the PRL, GH, and SL cells showed involutive features. Conclusions PRL, GH, and SL, although structurally and functionally related, are secreted by ultrastructurally different cells in the pituitary of M. yellowtail. Anat. Rec. 247:395–404, 1997 © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.