Immunocytochemical localization of prolactin in the pars distalis of the salamander Necturus maculosus

Abstract

The prolactin cells in the anterior pituitary of Necutrus maculosus have been localized with anti-ovine prolactin using the peroxidase-labeled antibody technique. Two histological stains, carmoisine-L, orange G and hematolylin and eosin, were used to corroborate the immunocytochemical results. In low magnification micrographs, the peroxidase positive area corresponds to comparable acidophilic and carmoisine-L staining areas of other sections from the same part of the gland. Carmoisine-L stains the heavily granulated prolactin cells bright orange. These cells correspond in morphology and arrangement to those containing the dark brown precipitate which indicates the site where antigen bound peroxidase has reacted with its substrate. When tissue was stained with nonimmune serum or with immune serum adsorbed with prolactin instead of the first antibody, the results were negative.