Somatostatin and altered medium osmotic pressure elicit rapid changes in prolactin release from the rostral pars distalis of the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, in vitro.

Prolactin (PRL) cells in the rostral pars distalis of the tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus respond to somatostatin (SRIF) and reduced medium osmotic pressure within 10-20 min of exposure during perifusion incubation. Pieces of rostral pars distalis tissue were removed from freshwater-adapted tilapia and were preincubated in [3H]leucine in static culture (355 m phi smolal) for 48 hr. Following preincubation, they were placed in the perifusion apparatus and baseline release was established for 3 hr in hyperosmotic medium (355 m phi smolal). Exposure to hyposmotic medium (280 m phi smolal) resulted in a rapid and steep rise in the release of [3H]PRL, which remained elevated for more than 2 hr. When SRIF was added simultaneously with hyposmotic medium, the rise in PRL release normally initiated by reduced osmotic pressure was prevented. Somatostatin also quickly reduced release that had been previously elevated by exposure to hyposmotic medium. The time course of these changes suggests that SRIF and altered osmotic pressure act on PRL secretion in at least partial independence of effects which they may have on PRL synthesis in the tilapia pituitary.