Ultrastructure and immunolabeling of gonadotrops and thyrotrops in the pituitary of the African catfish, Clarias lazera

Summary

Pituitaries of the African catfish (Clarias lazera) were studied with immunocytochemical methods, at the light-microscopic and ultrastructural levels, for the characterization and localization of gonadotropic and thyrotropic cells. Two immunostaining procedures with the use of different markers were carried out: (i) with peroxidase-antiperoxidase, (ii) with protein A-gold. In routinely stained sections for light microscopy two types of basophils were identified in the proximal pars distalis: (1) large, round, purple cells, and (2) small, angular, light-blue cells. Both types were immunolabeled with antibodies against Clarias α,β-gonadotropin (GTH) and salmon G100-GTH. Only the large basophils were immunolabeled with anti-carp β-GTH, whereas the small basophils were the only cells immunolabeled with anti-human thyrotropin beta subunit (anti-h TSH-β). It was concluded that the large basophils represent the gonadotrops and the small basophils the thyrotrops. At the ultrastructural level the immunostaining of the GTH-cells was confined to three types of inclusions: (i) secretory vesicles, (ii) globules, and (iii) electron-dense, membrane-bound irregular masses. Especially the protein A- gold method, in combination with the use of a highly diluted homologous antiserum, resulted in a distinct localization of GTH. The presence of two types of nerve fibres, synaptically contacting the gonadotrops, is discussed with regard to the presence of a peptidergic (stimulatory) and an aminergic (inhibitory) control of GTH-secretion.