Summary
In the sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna, seven morphological endocrine celltypes could be distinguished with the electron microscope. Each of these was identified with one of the seven cell-types distinguished with the light microscope, to most of which endocrine functions have previously been allocated. Corticotrophs and prolactin cells form the rostral pars distalis, and the proximal pars distalis consists of an outer layer of gonadotrophs and an inner zone containing growth hormone cells and thyrotrophs. The pars intermedia contains two cell-types, of uncertain function. Stellate cells (interstitial cells) occur throughout the adenohypophysis, but are most numerous and prominent in the rostral pars distalis. The inner proximal pars distalis contains a cell-type not previously distinguished in this species with the light microscope, the Z-cell, which could be aminergic.
The ultrastructural features of each cell-type are described in detail, and discussed in comparisons with the homologous cells described in other teleosts. There is good agreement for different teleosts in the ultrastructural details of each cell type.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Abraham, M.: The ultrastructure of the cell types and of the neurosecretory innervation in the pituitary of Mugil cephalus L. from fresh water, the sea, and a hypersaline lagoon. I. The rostral pars distalis. Gen. comp. Endocr. 17, 334–350 (1971)
Abraham, M.: The ultrastructure of the cell types and of the neurosecretory innervation in the pituitary of Mugil cephalus L. from freshwater, the sea, and a hypersaline lagoon. II. The proximal pars distalis. Gen. comp. Endocr. 24, 121–132 (1974)
Aler, G. M.: Prolactin cells: study of the pituitary gland of the roach (Leuciscus rutilus) by immuno-histochemical methods. Acta zool. 51, 149–157 (1970)
Båge, G., Ekengren, B., Fernholm, B., Fridberg, G.: The pituitary gland of the roach Leuciscus rutilus. I. The rostral pars distalis and its innervation. Acta zool. 55, 25–45 (1974a)
Båge, G., Ekengren, B., Fernholm, B., Fridberg, G.: The pituitary gland of the roach Leuciscus rutilus. II. The proximal pars distalis and its innervation. Acta zool. 55, 191–204 (1974b)
Baker, B. I.: The cellular source of melanocyte stimulating hormone in Anguilla pituitary. Gen. comp. Endocr. 19, 515–521 (1972)
Baker, B. I., Ball, J. N.: Background adaptation and the pituitary in teleosts. J. Endocr. 48, xxvi (1970)
Ball, J. N.: Partial hypophysectomy in the teleost Poecilia: separate identities of teleostean growth hormone and teleostean prolactin-like hormone. Gen. comp. Endocr. 5, 654–661 (1965)
Ball, J. N., Baker, B. I.: The pituitary gland: anatomy and histophysiology. In: Fish physiology (Hoar, W. S. and Randall, D. J., eds.), vol. II, p. 1–110. New York: Academic Press 1969
Ball, J. N., Ingleton, P. M.: Adaptive variations in prolactin secretion in relation to external salinity in the teleost Poecilia latipinna. Gen. comp. Endocr. 20, 312–325 (1973)
Ball, J. N., Olivereau, M.: Experimental identification of the ACTH cells in the pituitary of two teleosts, Poecilia latipinna and Anguilla anguilla: correlated changes in the interrenal and in the pars distalis resulting from the administration of metopirone (SU 4885). Gen. comp. Endocr. 6, 5–18 (1966)
Benjamin, M.: A morphometric study of the pituitary cell types in the freshwater stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, form leiurus. Cell Tiss. Res. 152, 69–92 (1974)
Chester Jones, I., Ball, J. N., Sandor, T., Henderson, I. W., Baker, B. I.: Endocrinology of fishes. In: Chemical zoology (Florkin, M. and Scheer, B. T., eds.), vol. VIII, p. 524–593. New York: Academic Press 1974
Cook, H., Overbeeke, A. P. van: Ultrastructure of the pituitary gland (pars distalis) in sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) during gonad maturation. Z. Zellforsch. 130, 338–350 (1972)
Costoff, A.: Ultrastructure of rat adenohypophysis: correlation with function. New York: Academic Press 1973
Dharmamba, M., Nishioka, R. S.: Response of “prolactin-secreting” cells of Tilapia mossambica to environmental salinity. Gen. comp. Endocr. 10, 409–420 (1968)
Emmart, E. W., Pickford, G. E., Wilhelmi, A. E.: Localization of prolactin within the pituitary of a cyprinodont fish, Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus) by specific fluorescent antiovine prolactin globulin. Gen. comp. Endocr. 7, 571–583 (1966)
Follénius, E.: Analyse de la structure fine des différents types de cellules hypophysaires des poissons téléostéens. Path. et Biol. 16, 619–632 (1968)
Follénius, E., Dubois, M. P.: Immunocytological localization and identification of the MSH-producing cells in the pituitary of the stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.). Gen. comp. Endocr. 24, 203–207 (1974)
Follénius, E., Porte, A.: Ultrastructure de l'hypophyse des cyprinodonts vivipares. Étude des types cellulaires composant l'adénohypophyse. C.R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 154, 1247–1250 (1960)
Follénius, E., Porte, A.: Étude des différents lobes de l'adénohypophyse de la perche, Perca fluviatilis, au microscope électronique. C.R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 155, 128–131 (1961)
Holmes, R. L., Ball, J. N.: The pituitary gland: a comparative account. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1974
Holtzman, S., Schreibman, M. P.: Morphological changes in the “prolactin” cell of the freshwater teleost, Xiphophorus helleri, in salt water. J. exp. Zool. 180, 187–196 (1972)
Hopkins, C. R.: The fine structural localization of acid phosphatase in the prolactin cell of the teleost pituitary following the stimulation and inhibition of secretory activity. Tissue and Cell 1, 653–671 (1969)
Jasiński, A.: Electron microscopic study of the pars distalis of the hypophysis in the pond loach, Misgurnus fossilis L. Acta anat. (Basel) 86, 228–252 (1973)
Jasiński, A., Kilarski, W.: Fine structure of pars neuro-intermedia of the loach, Misgurnus fossilis L. Z. Zellforsch. 105, 259–275 (1970)
Kaul, S., Vollrath, L.: The goldfish pituitary. I. Cytology. Cell Tiss. Res. 154, 211–230 (1974)
Karnovsky, M. J.: A glutaraldehyde fixative. J. Cell Biol. 27, 137A (1965)
Knowles, F., Vollrath, L.: Neurosecretory innervation of the pituitary of the eels Anguilla and Conger. Phil. Trans. B 250, 311–342 (1966)
Leatherland, J. F.: Seasonal variation in the structure and ultrastructure of the pituitary of the marine form (trachurus) of the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L. I. Rostral pars distalis. Z. Zellforsch. 104, 301–317 (1970a)
Leatherland, J. F.: Seasonal variation in the structure and ultrastructure of the pituitary gland in the marine form (trachurus) of the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L. II. Proximal pars distalis and neuro-intermediate lobe. Z. Zellforsch. 104, 318–336 (1970b)
Leatherland, J. F.: Histophysiology and innervation of the pituitary gland of the goldfish, Carassius auratus L.: a light and electron microscope investigation. Canad. J. Zool. 50, 835–844 (1972)
Leatherland, J. F., Ball, J. N., Hyder, M.: Structure and fine structure of the hypophyseal pars distalis in indigenous African species of the genus Tilapia. Cell Tiss. Res. 149, 245–266 (1974)
Nagahama, Y.: Histo-physiological studies on the pituitary gland of some teleost fishes, with special reference to the classification of hormone-producing cells in the adenohypophysis. Mem. Fac. Fish., Hokkaido Univ. 21, 1–63 (1973)
Nagahama, Y., Nishioka, R. S., Bern, H. A.: Responses of prolactin cells of two euryhaline marine fishes, Gillichthys mirabilis and Platichthys stellatus, to environmental salinity. Z. Zellforsch. 136, 153–167 (1973)
Nagahama, Y., Yamamoto, K.: Fine structure of the glandular cells in the adenohypophysis of the kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka. Bull. Fac. Fish., Hokkaido Univ. 20, 159–168 (1969a)
Nagahama, Y., Yamamoto, K.: Basophils in the adenohypophysis of the goldfish (Carassius auratus). Gunma Symp. Endocr. 6, 39–55 (1969b)
Nagahama, Y., Yamamoto, K.: Morphological studies on the pituitary of the chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta. II. Changes of the prolactin cells during the life-cycle. Bull. Fac. Fish., Hokkaido Univ. 21, 169–177 (1970)
Olivereau, M.: Elaboration d'intermédine par les cellules colorées avec l'haematoxyline au plomb dans la pars intermedia de l'Anguille: preuves nouvelles et contrôle hypothalamique. C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) D 272, 102–105 (1971)
Olivereau, M., Ball, J. N.: Contribution á l'histophysiologie de l'hypophyse des Téléostéens, en particulier de celle de Poecilia species. Gen. comp. Endocr. 4, 523–532 (1964)
Olivereau, M., Ball, J. N.: Histological study of functional ectopic pituitary transplants in a teleost fish (Poecilia formosa). Proc. roy. Soc. B 164, 106–129 (1966)
Öztan, N.: The fine structure of the adenohypophysis of Zoarces viviparus L. Z. Zellforsch. 69, 699–718 (1966)
Reynolds, E. S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963)
Spurr, A. R.: A low viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 26, 31–43 (1969)
Thornton, V. F., Howe, C.: The effect of change of background colour on the ultrastructure of the pars intermedia of the pituitary of the eel (Anguilla anguilla). Cell Tiss. Res. 151, 103–115 (1974)
Weiss, M.: The release of pituitary secretion in the platyfish Xiphophorus maculatus (Guenther). Z. Zellforsch. 68, 783–794 (1965)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We thank Mr. L. Ethridge, Mr. M. P. Hancock, Mr. D. Hollingworth and Mr. W. Thomson for technical assistance, and Mr. D. Taylor of the Nuffield Institute of the Zoological Society of London for permission to use the Nuffield Institute electron microscope. We are grateful to Dr. Harry Grier, who collected and embedded glands from P. latipinna in its natural fresh-water habitat in Florida, U.S.A. T. Batten is in receipt of an S.R.C. Research Studentship.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Batten, T., Ball, J.N. & Benjamin, M. Ultrastructure of the adenohypophysis in the teleost Poecilia latipinna . Cell Tissue Res. 161, 239–261 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220372
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220372