Chronological appearance of the different hypophysial hormones in the pituitary of sea bass larvae (Dicentrarchus labrax) during their early development: an immunocytochemical demonstration

Antisera raised against chum salmon prolactin (PRL), rainbow trout growth hormone (GH), mammalian adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were used to study the chronological appearance of immunoreactivity for PRL, GH, ACTH, TSH, LH, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) in the pituitary of sea bass larvae (Dicentrarchus labrax) during the first 26 days after hatching. The anti-ACTH gives positive immunostaining in the ACTH cells as well as in the MSH cells; however, the two cell types can easily be distinguished by their different localization in the pituitary: ACTH in the rostral pars distalis, MSH in the pars intermedia. The first day after hatching cells immunoreactive for TSH, GH and ACTH could already be noticed, ACTH reacted strong in the pars intermedia but very weak in the rostral pars distalis. Cells immunopositive for PRL became visible between Days 9 and 15. With anti-LH, no positive reaction could be obtained during the first 26 days after hatching.