Immunocytochemical localization of some turkey pituitary hormones using antisera to human hormones.

This study was conducted to determine the crossreactivity of antisera to human prolactin (PRL), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and growth hormone (GH) to turkey pituicytes. In addition, crossreactivities of the above antisera and antiserum to turkey GH to pituicytes of turkey, cat, rabbit, horse, owl monkey, and human were evaluated. Results of the immunocytochemical localizations showed that with one exception antisera to human hormones were positive for each species tested. Turkey pituicytes failed to crossreact with antiserum to human GH. Likewise, antiserum to turkey GH failed to crossreact with owl monkey and human pituicytes. It is suggested that commercially available antisera to human PRL and ACTH but not GH can be used for the immunocytochemical localization of turkey pituicytes producing PRL and ACTH. These observations also suggest that the molecular structure of PRL and ACTH is conserved within the species examined. Likewise, the molecular structure of GH is conserved between the species examined with the exception of that of the primates, which appears to differ from that of the turkey.