Prolactin-producing Cells in Clupea harengus membras,Polypterus palmas and Calamoichthys calabaricus Studied by Immuno-histochemical Methods

The prolactin-producing cells in Clupea harengus membras, Polypterus palmas and Calamoichthys calabaricus have been localized by fluores-ceinlabelled antibodies to ovine prolactin. Pituitary sections were cut in a cryostat and both direct and indirect protein tracing methods have been used. As an additional method the paraffin embedding technique was carried out with Polypterus palmas. The prolactin-producing cells in Clupea harengus membras were localized to the follicle epithelium in the rostral pars distalis. In Polypterus palmas and Calamoichthys calabaricus the prolactin producing cells were scattered all over the pars distalis. A possible relationship between the erythrosinophilic prolactin cells and the epithelium cells in the buccohypophyseal canal is discussed.