Secretory activity of Poecilia latipinna (Teleostei) pituitary in vitro: rostral pars distalis and proximal pars distalis.

The ultrastructure of each adenohypophysial secretory cell type was examined in pituitaries of adult female mollies (Poecilia latipinna) after various periods in vitro, and with varied medium osmotic pressure (OP), Na+, and Ca2+ concentrations. Prolactin (PRL) cells were markedly activated by 18 hr, and after 7 or 14 days were almost totally degranulated, with massive arrays of Golgi and RER. Reduction in OP, but not Na+ or Ca2+, caused an additional activation of PRL cells after periods of 18 hr or longer. Corticotroph (ACTH) cells became noticeably activated by 4 hr, and were possibly affected by OP, but not Na+ or Ca2+. Growth hormone (GH) cells were activated by 6 hr, and after 18 hr were quite degranulated with extensive arrays of RER. OP had no effect on GH cells before 3 days, when reduced OP appeared to cause an additional activation, with the appearance of large irregular secretory granule (SG)-like inclusions. Na+ and Ca2+ again had no effect. Gonadotrophic (GtH) cells appeared to be little affected by in vitro incubation; however, the very active cells from vitellogenic fish underwent a reduction in dilated RER after prolonged culture. Thyrotrophic (TSH) cells gradually became activated in vitro, but the response again varied with the sexual condition of the fish. Neither GtH nor TSH cells were affected by OP, Na+, or Ca2+. The findings are discussed in relation to hypothalamic control, via releasing/inhibiting factors, of adenohypophysial cell activity.