Effects of acclimation to hypertonic environment on plasma and pituitary levels of two prolactins and growth hormone in two species of tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus and Oreochromis niloticus.

Specific radioimmunoassays (RIAs) for the pair of tilapia prolactins (tPRLs) and growth hormone (tGH) were developed using antisera raised in rabbits. Anti-tPRL177 did not cross-react with tPRL188 and tGH. Anti-tPRL188 did not cross-react with tPRL177 and showed slight cross-reaction (3.1%) with tGH. Anti-tGH showed negligible cross-reactions with tPRL177 (0.4%) and tPRL188 (1.6%). Pituitary homogenates and plasma from Oreochromis niloticus exhibited displacement curves parallel to the standards in the three RIAs. Plasma from hypophysectomized O. niloticus showed no cross-reaction in any of the three RIAs. Plasma and pituitary levels of the two PRLs in O. mossambicus in freshwater did not differ significantly from each other, whereas in O. niloticus, the levels of PRL177 were significantly greater than those of PRL188 in both plasma and pituitary. After acclimation for 3-4 weeks in seawater (O. mossambicus) or 50% seawater (O. niloticus), the levels of both PRLs decreased significantly compared to their levels in freshwater. Acclimation to a hypertonic environment did not affect plasma and pituitary GH levels in either species. Immunocytochemical staining of the pituitary of O. niloticus revealed colocalization of both PRLs in rostral pars distalis. Our findings suggest that the synthesis and secretion of the two tPRLs could be independently regulated in the same cells.