Isolation and identification of female-specific serum lipophosphoprotein (vitellogenin) in the catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch).

Abstract

Abstract A female-specific serum lipophosphoprotein, vitellogenin, was identified in the female catfish during vitellogenesis, and its synthesis was induced in the female or male catfish following administration of estradiol. A crude preparation of vitellogenin was isolated from the serum of estradiol-treated male or female catfish following gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA 34. Estimation of alkali-labile protein phosphorus was found to be a reliable index of the presence of vitellogenin in the serum of the catfish. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis study showed that a new protein band was present in the serum of estradiol-treated female catfish.