Development of a salmon growth hormone radioimmunoassay

Acute handling disturbance modulates plasma insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The effects of acute stressor exposure on proximal (growth hormone [GH]) and distal (insulin-like growth factor-I [IFG-I] and insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins [IFGBPs]) components of the somatotropic axis are poorly understood in finfish. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to a 5-min handling disturbance to mimic an acute stressor episode, and levels of plasma GH, IGF-I, and IGFBPs at 0, 1, 4, and 24 h post-stressor exposure were measured. An unstressed group was also sampled at the same clock times (09:00, 10:00, 13:00, and 08:00 [the following day]) as acute stress sampling to determine temporal changes in the above somatotropic axis components. The acute stressor transiently elevated plasma cortisol and glucose levels at 1 and 4 h post-stressor exposure, whereas no changes were seen in the unstressed group. Plasma GH levels were not affected by handling stress or sampling time in the unstressed animals. Plasma IGF-I levels were significantly depressed at 1 and 4 h post-stressor exposure, but no discernible temporal pattern was seen in the unstressed animals. Using a western ligand blotting technique, we detected plasma IGFBPs of 21, 32, 42, and 50 kDa in size. The plasma levels of the lower-molecular-weight IGFBPs (21 and 32 kDa) were unaffected by handling stressor, nor were there any discernible temporal patterns in the unstressed animals. By contrast, the higher-molecular-weight IGFBPs (42 and 50 kDa) were affected by stress or time of sampling. Levels of the 42-kDa IGFBP levels significantly decreased over the sampling period in unstressed control animals, but this temporal drop was eliminated in stressed animals. Levels of the 50-kDa IGFBPs also decreased significantly over the sampling time in unstressed trout, whereas handling disturbance transiently increased levels of this IGFBP at 1 h but not at 4 and 24 h post-stressor exposure compared with the control group. Overall, our results suggest that acute stress adaptation involves modulation of plasma IGF-1 and high-molecular-mass IGFBP levels (42 and 50 kDa) in rainbow trout.

Chronic social stress in rainbow trout: does it promote physiological habituation?

The effect of chronic social stress on growth, energetic substrates and hormones was tested in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. After a 14-day isolation period, the fish were paired for 8 days. In order to expose fish to chronic intermittent social contact during pairing, they were maintained in direct contact with each other during the first day. After that, a black plastic screen partition was introduced in each tank, preventing direct contact between animals. Every day the partition was removed for 30 min, allowing physical interaction between fish. At the end of pairing period, they were isolated again for 13 days. Fish were weighed and blood was sampled frequently during the experiment. Plasma levels of cortisol, growth hormone, glucose, total protein and free amino acids were quantified. Both dominants and subordinates had specific growth rate decreased during the pairing period, but only subordinates increased when the stressor was abolished (dominants: 0.32+/-0.21 and 0.24+/-0.41, subordinates: -0.77+/-0.29 and 0.37+/-0.31, respectively). Dominants showed a higher cortisol level one week after pairing condition had been abolished than subordinates (dominants: 56.76+/-13.26, subordinates: 31.89+/-13.36). We conclude that chronic condition of intermittent social stress represents a stressful condition for animals of both hierarchical ranks and a treatment of one daily short direct contact between conspecifics does not promote habituation in fish, as mentioned for other stressors.

Effects of aquaculture related stressors and nutritional restriction on circulating growth factors (GH, IGF-I and IGF-II) in Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout

The effects of aquaculture related stressors on circulating levels of GH, IGF-I and for the first time, IGF-II in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were investigated. Specifically, circulating growth factor levels were measured in four different experiments. Two 24 h confinement stressor procedures, (one with Atlantic salmon, the other with rainbow trout); following a hypo-osmotic stressor (freshwater bath) in salt water acclimated, adult, Atlantic salmon; and during a 22 day starvation and re-feeding protocol with juvenile Atlantic salmon. Handling and confinement resulted in significant decreases in circulating levels of all three growth factors in Atlantic salmon, and IGF-I and IGF-II (but not GH) in rainbow trout. A 2-3 h freshwater bath to remove gill parasites on a commercial Atlantic salmon aquaculture operation caused a significant decrease in circulating GH and IGF-I concentrations, but no significant change in IGF-II concentration, 2 days post bathing. Starvation for a period of 15 days in Atlantic salmon resulted in a significant increase in circulating GH levels and a significant decrease in circulating IGF-I and IGF-II. Re-feeding of starved fish for 7 days resulted in a significant decrease in GH to the concentration measured in continually fed fish, however re-feeding did not change plasma levels of IGF-I and IGF-II relative to continually starved fish. The results presented here confirm previously observed handling and confinement stressor induced effects on GH and IGF-I and, for the first time, on IGF-II in salmonids. Furthermore this study confirms the nutritional regulation of GH, IGF-I and IGF-II in juvenile Atlantic salmon.

Effect of fasting on nychthemeral concentrations of plasma growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and cortisol in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

This experiment was conducted to characterize the effect of fasting versus satiety feeding on plasma concentrations of GH, IGF-I, and cortisol over a nychthemeron. Channel catfish fingerlings were acclimated for two weeks under a 12L:12D photoperiod, then fed or fasted for 21 d. On day 21, blood samples were collected every 2 h for 24 h. Weight of fed fish increased an average of 66.2% and fasted fish lost 21.7% of body weight on average. Average nychthemeral concentrations of plasma GH were not significantly different between fed (24.7 ng/mL) and fasted (26.8 ng/mL) fish, but average nychthemeral IGF-I concentrations were higher in fed (23.4 ng/mL) versus fasted (17.8 ng/mL) fish. An increase in plasma IGF-I concentrations was observed in fasted fish 2 h after a peak in plasma GH, but not in fed fish. Average nychthemeral plasma cortisol concentrations were higher in fed (14.5 ng/mL) versus fasted (11.0 ng/mL) fish after 21 d. Significant fluctuations and a postprandial increase in plasma cortisol were observed in fed fish and there was an overall increase in plasma cortisol of both fasted and fed fish during the scotophase. The present experiment indicates little or no effect of 21-d fasting on plasma GH levels but demonstrates fasting-induced suppression of plasma IGF-I and cortisol levels in channel catfish.

Establishment of a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for measuring plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in fish: effect of fasting on plasma concentrations and tissue mRNA expression of IGF-I and growth hormone (GH) in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

A time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) was established and validated that allows for the determination of plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in three domestically cultured fishes: channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysopsxM. saxatilis), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Sensitivity of the assay was 0.20 ng/ml. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CV) were <7 and <12%, respectively. Serial dilutions of plasma from each species were parallel to the standard curve. Recovery of IGF-I from spiked plasma samples was >90% for all three species of fishes. The IGF-I TR-FIA was biologically validated via its use to determine the effect of fasting on circulating IGF-I levels in channel catfish. Fasting-induced changes in plasma growth hormone (GH), hepatic IGF-I mRNA expression, and pituitary GH mRNA expression were also determined. Fasted channel catfish lost 5.6 and 15.6% body mass after 2 and 4 weeks of fasting, respectively. Plasma IGF-I concentrations were depressed (P<0.05) relative to fed controls following 2 and 4 weeks of fasting. Plasma GH concentrations were not different (P>0.05) in fasted fish after 2 weeks, but significantly increased (P<0.05) by 4 weeks of fasting. Hepatic IGF-I mRNA expression after 2 and 4 weeks of fasting was reduced (P<0.05) relative to fed controls. Pituitary GH mRNA expression was similar (P>0.05) between 2-week-fasted catfish and fed controls, but was increased (P<0.05) in 4-week-fasted catfish. The IGF-I TR-FIA was sensitive, accurate, and precise for all three species of fishes, and provided a low-cost, and non-radioisotopic method for quantifying plasma IGF-I levels in fed and fasted channel catfish.

Effects of food deprivation on expression of growth hormone receptor and proximate composition in liver of black seabream Acanthopagrus schlegeli

The effects of food deprivation on the hepatic level growth hormone receptor (GHR) were investigated in black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegeli) both at the protein level (by radioreceptor assay) and at the mRNA level (by ribonuclease protection assay). Serum levels of growth hormone (GH) and triiodothyronine (T(3)) were also measured. Condition factor and hepatic proximate composition of the fish were also assessed. Significant decrease in hepatic GHR binding was recorded as early as on day 2 of starvation. On day 30 this decrease was even more pronounced, with the level in the starved fish reaching less than 20% the fed control level. A concomitant decrease in the hepatic GHR mRNA content was also noted during this period, with a progressive decrease from day 2 to day 30 of starvation. The extent of decrease in the mRNA content was less pronounced than the decrease in receptor binding, with the hepatic GHR mRNA content in the day 30 starved fish representing approximately 30% of the level in the fed control. In large contrast, serum GH level increased progressively during starvation. After 30 days of starvation, serum GH levels in the starved fish were more than three times the concentration found in the fed control. Serum T(3) levels, on the other hand, decreased during starvation, with the difference reaching significance on day 15 and day 30. After 30 days of starvation, serum T(3) levels in the starved fish were only approximately 40% the concentration found in the fed control. The hepatic lipid content exhibited an increasing trend during starvation. On day 30 the hepatic lipid content of the starved fish had doubled the level found in the fed control. However, the hepatic protein content did not exhibit much change during starvation. There was also a minor decrease in the moisture content of the liver during starvation, but the condition factor of the fish as a whole registered a gradual decrease during the course of food deprivation.

Effects of fasting on growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor I axis in the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus

Effects of fasting on the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis were examined in the tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) acclimated to fresh water. Fasting for 2 weeks resulted in significant reductions in body weight, specific growth rate and hepatosomatic index in both males and females. Significant reductions in specific growth rates were observed after 1 and 2 weeks in both sexes, although the decrease in body weight was not significant in the female. A significant reduction was also seen in the condition factor of females after 2 weeks. No change was seen in the gonadosomatic index in either sex. Two weeks of fasting also produced a significant reduction in plasma IGF-I but not in plasma GH, prolactin (PRL(188)) or cortisol. Significant reductions in the hepatic IGF-I mRNA were seen in both sexes. On the other hand, a significant increase was observed in cortisol receptor mRNA in the female liver. Plasma IGF-I levels were correlated significantly with specific growth rate, condition factor and hepatosomatic index, indicating that plasma IGF-I is a good indicator of growth in the tilapia. No change was seen in plasma glucose or osmolality after 2 weeks of fasting. During fasting, tilapia appears to convert metabolic energy from growth to basal metabolism including maintenance of ion and water balance.

Changes in serum concentrations and pituitary content of the two prolactins and growth hormone during the reproductive cycle in female tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, compared with changes during fasting

Patterns of change in serum concentrations and pituitary content of GH and two tilapia prolactins (PRL177 and PRL188) were examined during the reproductive cycle of female tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, adapted to fresh water and to seawater. Changes in these hormones during fasting were examined to elucidate whether changes observed during brooding could be attributed to a reduction in feeding during brooding. Serum concentrations of GH increased prior to pituitary content during the brooding phase of the reproductive cycle. In contrast, pituitary content of GH increased prior to serum concentrations during fasting. There was no consistent pattern of change in serum or pituitary PRL levels during the reproductive cycle, among experiments. Serum concentrations of PRL177 were elevated in all fasted fish, whereas PRL188 was elevated during fasting in males but not females. The increases in the serum concentration of PRLs and GH, and in the pituitary content of GH in response to fasting support the notion that these hormones are involved in the regulation of the use of metabolic substrates in tilapia. We conclude that reduced food intake during brooding may contribute to changes in serum and pituitary levels of the PRLs and GH observed during the reproductive cycle. Nevertheless, differences between changes in serum and pituitary GH during brooding and fasting suggest GH has actions in reproduction, and changes in GH during brooding are not only in response to fasting.

One-step immunoaffinity purification and partial characterization of hypophyseal growth hormone from the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

Growth hormone (GH) was purified from African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) pituitary extracts in a single step by use of immunoaffinity chromatography. A monoclonal antibody to chicken GH, which labels the catfish hypophyseal somatotropes in immunocytochemistry, was coupled to CNBr-activated Sepharose, and crude alkaline pituitary extracts were run over the immunoadsorbent. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the eluted material suggested heterogeneity, whereas silver staining upon SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed one single band with an estimated molecular weight between 22,000 and 23,000 Da. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of the same preparation revealed the presence of several components with molecular weights ranging from 20,170 to 20,900 Da. The amino terminus of the protein was homogeneous, and the first 50 residues matched the proposed sequence of GH from two other siluran species (Ictalurus punctatus and Pangasius pangasius), except for one substitution at position 3. These data unequivocally confirm the identity of the purified molecule as suggested by immunochemical evidence. The bioactivity of the GH preparation was demonstrated by the short-term effect of GH on T3 plasma levels in juvenile catfish.

Characterization of growth hormone nycthemeral plasma profiles in catheterized rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This study was conducted in order to characterize the nycthemeral plasma profiles of growth hormone (GH) in 41 prepubertal (2+) rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The possible influences of day-night alternation and of the food factor (quantity ingested, timing of the feed) on these plasma profiles were also analysed. Blood samples were taken every hour during a 24-hour period through a catheter inserted in the dorsal aorta. An assay of cortisol levels showed that the fish were in satisfactory physiological condition. The plasma concentrations of GH fluctuated significantly during the course of a nycthemere. The basal level was very low (0.32 +/- 0.01 ng/ml), and was interrupted by peaks that occurred at a rate of 2.1 +/- 0.1 peaks/24 hr, an amplitude of 2.0 +/- 0.3 ng/ml, and a duration of 3.5 +/- 0.2 hr. As a result, mean GH levels over a 24-hr period were low (0.7 +/- 0.1 ng/ml). Peaks occurred irregularly and asynchronously in individual fish and displayed no rhythmicity. Our study shows that there is a sexual difference in GH profiles in rainbow trout. No significant difference was observed between daily and nightly levels of GH (0.6 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.1 ng/ml). No influence of the diet on the plasma profiles of GH was observed. Average levels of GH over a 24 hr period are not significantly correlated with the growth rate of the fish. This study shows that circulating levels of GH in rainbow trout are markedly lower than in other vertebrates.

The use of recombinant gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) growth hormone for radioiodination and standard preparation in radioimmunoassay

A gilthead sea bream growth hormone (sbGH) obtained by cloning and expression of sbGH cDNA was used to develop a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay (RIA). Iodination of recombinant sbGH (rsbGH) was performed by the classical Chloramine-T method. Specific antiserum, raised in rabbits, was added in a final dilution of 1/36,000. The minimum detectable dose was 30 pg, and the midrange of the assay (ED50) was 275 pg. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CV) were 3.3 and 5.8% at ED50 levels. Human GH (hGH), ovine GH (oGH), carp gonadotropin (cGtH), chinook salmon gonadotropin (sGtH), ovine prolactin (oPRL) and recombinant tilapia prolactin (rtiPRL) did not show cross-reactivity. Serial dilutions of chinook salmon GH (sGH) and recombinant rainbow trout GH (rtGH) showed a low but significant cross-reactivity. A good parallelism between rsbGH standard and serial dilutions of native sbGH, plasma and pituitary extracts was observed. In addition, when plasma and pituitary samples were analyzed for GH quantification, non-significant differences were observed within this and previous RIA for native sbGH. Therefore, it appears conclusive that our rsbGH can be used successfully as a standard and radioiodinated hormone in GH assays for gilthead sea bream, which is extensively cultured in the Mediterranean area.

The gill calcium transport cycle in rainbow trout is correlated with plasma levels of bioactive, not immunoreactive, stanniocalcin

Stanniocalcin (STC) is an inhibitor of gill Ca2+ transport that is produced by the corpuscles of Stannius, endocrine glands in bony fish. In young rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), there are cyclical changes in the rate of gill Ca2+ transport, with alternating phases of accelerated and reduced uptake every 14 days. Previous studies by our laboratory have established that the responsiveness of young trout to the inhibitory effects of exogenous STC is dependent on this cycle. Trout are highly responsive to STC at peaks of Ca2+ uptake and unresponsive at nadirs, which has led us to suggest that the gill Ca2+ transport cycle may be regulated by a reciprocal cycle in the levels of plasma STC. In this report, we have further characterized the gill Ca2+ transport cycle in salmonids and investigated the role of STC in its regulation. Our results showed that the cycle is synchronous and is likely a characteristic feature in all salmonids but that it varies in amplitude between species. Surprisingly, we observed no correlation between circulating levels of radioimmunoassayable STC and the rate of gill Ca2+ transport in trout. To address this apparent contradiction, trout fry were passively immunized with STC antiserum to determine if there were variable amounts of bioactive STC in the circulation, at times when trout were either more or less sensitive to exogenous STC. We observed that during the times when trout were responsive to STC treatment (i.e., cycle peaks), passive immunization had no effect on the rate of gill Ca2+ transport in fish from the same population, indicating that there were low levels of bioactive STC in the circulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Plasma growth hormone levels in fed and fasted rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are decreased following handling stress

Plasma growth hormone concentrations of rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss, fasted for six weeks, were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than in comparable fed animals; in the fasted fish, the levels fell progressively following acute stress (by displacing the fish within their home aquarium), with significant differences from pre-stressed fish evident between one and thirty-two hours after application of the stressor. Plasma growth hormone concentrations also fell significantly in the fed group, but differences were evident only between two and eight hours after stressor application.Plasma cortisol concentrations in pre- and post-stressed fed and fasted fish were similar. There was a bimodal response to stressor application in both groups, with significantly higher values relative to the pre-stressed sample evident one and eight hours after disturbance, but not after two, four or thirty-two hours. The changes in plasma cortisol levels between the initial (09:00h) sample and the sample taken eight hours later resembles the diet pattern seen in trout given access to self-demand feeders.Plasma glucose concentrations in pre-stressed fed animals were higher than in pre-stressed fasted fish. This relationship was also evident between one and four hours and thirty-two hours after stressor application. The post-stress rise in plasma glucose concentration was evident between one and four hours in the fed group, and between four and eight hours in fasted fish.The diel changes in plasma growth hormone and glucose concentrations could not be attributed to normal circadian patterns, and there was no apparent correlation between changes in plasma growth hormone and cortisol concentrations. There was a significant inverse correlation between plasma glucose and growth hormone concentrations when the total data set were analyzed, but these correlations were not apparent when the treatment groups were analyzed separately.

The development of a noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for oncorhynchid growth hormone using monoclonal antibodies

The development of a sensitive and specific two-site, or sandwich, noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for oncorhynchid growth hormone (GH) using monoclonal antibodies (MCAs) is reported. The MCAs were generated by the fusion of myeloma cells with spleen cells from mice that had been immunized with chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) recombinant GH. The MCAs specifically recognized the GH-secreting acidophils in the proximal pars distalis of immature male rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) pituitaries. Affinity chromatography using one of the MCAs isolated a single protein with a molecular weight of 22,500 from a rainbow trout pituitary extract. The ELISA recognized recombinant chum salmon GH and the affinity-purified protein but did not recognize chum salmon prolactin, gonadotropin I or II, nor several mammalian hormone preparations. The ELISA recognized GH in rainbow trout, coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), and chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) pituitary extracts, but not in goldfish (Carassius auratus) extracts, and recognized GH in rainbow trout, coho salmon, lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), and bowfin (Amia calva) plasma, but not in goldfish, yellow bullhead (Ictalurus natalis), or lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) plasma. The sensitivity of the ELISA was less than 1.56 ng/ml and circulating levels of GH in the plasma of coho salmon and rainbow trout plasma were measured as 75 and 35 ng equivalents/ml, respectively.

Effects of acute and chronic stress on the levels of circulating growth hormone in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

The acute stress of handling followed by confinement for a period of 1 or 24 hr caused a typical stress response in rainbow trout (elevation of plasma ACTH and cortisol) and a significant reduction in the concentration of circulating growth hormone. The chronic stress of low oxygen levels in both crowded and uncrowded tanks of fish caused a significant elevation of circulating GH levels, an effect which was abolished by the provision of additional aeration to the rearing tanks. This chronic elevation of GH levels was closely correlated with an elevation of plasma cortisol in the same fish. These findings are discussed in relation to stress-induced growth suppression and to the links between the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis and somatotrope activity.

Development and validation of a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay for chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) growth hormone

This study describes the development of a highly specific and very sensitive radioimmunoassay for salmonid growth hormone. Antiserum raised against chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) GH2, which did not recognize 125I-sPRL and 125I-sGTH (at 1:1000 initial dilution), was able to inhibit growth when injected into rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). 125I-sGH2, used as tracer, was not recognized by anti-sGTH or by anti-sPRL. Mammalian GH and ACTH and salmonid GTH, TSH, and PRL did not cross-react in the sGH assay. The inhibition curves for pituitary extracts and plasma from salmonids were parallel to the salmon GH standard, whereas those from carp, tilapia, and catfish showed no significant cross reactivity. The RIA ED90 and ED50 values were 0.2 and 1.5 ng/ml, respectively. Using this RIA for measuring GH release by cultured pituitary cell we observed a strong inhibiting effect of SRIF (10(-6) M) and a stimulatory effect of hGRF (10(-6) M). This RIA allowed us also to detect daily fluctuations in the plasma GH concentration in cannulated rainbow trout.

The effect of starvation on growth and plasma growth hormone concentrations of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Two experiments, one using 0+ the other 1+ rainbow trout, were conducted to investigate the effect of prolonged starvation on plasma growth hormone levels. The results from both experiments were essentially the same. As expected, starvation resulted in cessation of growth and in a lower coefficient of condition, whereas fed fish continued to grow and remained in good condition. Starvation had relatively little effect on the plasma cortisol level; in one experiment levels were elevated temporarily in starved fish, although by the end of the experiment there was no longer any difference between starved and fed fish, and in the other experiment plasma cortisol levels remained very low throughout the course of the experiment in both starved and fed fish. In contrast, in both experiments starvation had a pronounced effect on the plasma growth hormone level, which rose steadily during both experiments, such that it was six times higher after 1 month of starvation in 0+ fish, and five times higher after 6 weeks of starvation in 1+ fish. Thus, paradoxically, fed fish had very low plasma growth hormone levels and grew rapidly, whereas starved fish had elevated plasma growth hormone levels but did not grow. In both experiments a strong negative correlation was observed between the plasma growth hormone level and the coefficient of condition of the fish. The results are discussed with regard to the well-established metabolic changes that occur during starvation, and it is suggested that a major role of growth hormone during starvation is to aid in the mobilisation of fatty acids and glycerol from adipose stores.

Homologous radioimmunoassay for bullfrog growth hormone

Antiserum against bullfrog growth hormone (fGH) was produced by immunizing rabbits with the highly purified fGH obtained from adenohypophyses of adult bullfrogs. Histological studies on bullfrog adenohypophyses revealed that the cells that immunologically reacted with the antiserum against fGH corresponded to the ones positively stained with the antiserum against rat GH. The antiserum together with fGH and 125I-fGH was employed to develop a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for fGH. Several dilutions of plasma and of pituitary homogenate of both adult and larval bullfrogs yielded dose-response curves which were parallel to the standard curve. Ovine prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH); eel and salmon GHs; and bullfrog LH, FSH, TSH, PRL, and neurointermediate lobe homogenate did not react in this assay. Plasma from hypophysectomized bullfrogs had no detectable immunoreactive GH. Pituitary homogenates of Bufo japonicus, Xenopus laevis, and Cynops pyrrhogaster gave inhibition curves which did not parallel the standard. The homologous RIA for bullfrog GH thus developed was applied for the determination of plasma and pituitary GH levels in the larvae and adults. Plasma GH levels were relatively low during preclimax period and rose as metamorphosis progressed. Plasma GH concentrations were maximum in the juvenile frogs and decreased as the animals grew up. Pituitary GH concentrations also increased as metamorphosis progressed. After metamorphosis, pituitary GH concentrations declined as the frogs gained weight. There was no sex difference in plasma and pituitary GH levels in the adult.

Osmoregulation in the mudskipper,Boleophthalmus boddaerti II. transepithelial potential and hormonal control

Boleophthalmus boddaerti submerged in 10%, 50% and 80% seawater (sw) for 7 days, had whole body transepithelial potentials (TEP) of 3.3, 18.3 and 22.9 mV, respectively. Hypophysectomy significantly decreased the TEP ofB. boddaerti and reversed the polarity of the TEP of the fish exposed to 10% sw.Hypophysectomy also significantly decreased the branchial Na(+)-K(+) activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na(+),K(+)-ATPase) activity but increased the activity of branchial HCO3 (-)-Cl(-) stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (HCO3 (-),Cl(-)-ATPase) inB. boddaerti exposed to 10% sw. However, survival in 10% sw was not significantly impaired by hypophysectomy and no significant change in plasma osmolality and plasma Na(+) and Cl(-) concentrations was observed.Various doses of ovine-prolactin or salmon-prolactin were unable to restore the TEP of hypophysectomizedB. boddaerti in 10% sw to that of the sham-operated fish. However, cortisol increased TEP to a positive value in hypophysectomizedB. boddaerti, though it was still lower than the sham-operated control. Cortisol treatment also affected the plasma osmolality, plasma Na(+) and Cl(-) contents and branchial Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and HCO3 (-),Cl(-)-ATPase activities. Overall, the hormonal control of osmoregulation inB. boddaerti appeared to differ from that of other teleosts.

The effect of thyroid hormone and glucocorticoids on carp growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF)-induced growth hormone (GH) release in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

1. The effect of thyroid hormone and glucocorticoids on carp growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF)-induced growth hormone (GH) secretion was studied on rainbow trout using a dispersed pituitary cell culture system. 2. A combined administration of lower doses (0.01 microM) of 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) and dexamethasone (Dex) significantly increased spontaneous as well as carp GRF-induced GH release. 3. Lower doses of Dex alone had no effect, and T3 had a marginal effect on GH release. Higher doses of either Dex or T3 potentially reduced GH release. 4. This study indicates an important role of thyroid hormone and/or glucocorticoids in the hypothalamic regulation of GH secretion in fish.

Separation of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) growth hormone by gel electrophoresis

Pituitaries from immature (n = 12) and mature female (n = 15) rainbow trout were cultured separately in vitro and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Four protein bands were identified from the immature rainbow trout and three from the adults. The material from the immature trout was used to raise antisera. Three of the bands, including those with the highest (0.74) and lowest (0.27) Rf values, produced antibodies. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that all of the antisera bound strongly to the growth hormone cells and weakly, if at all, to prolactin cells in pituitary sections from rainbow trout.

In vitro responses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) somatotrophs to carp growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) and somatostatin

To study the hypothalamic control of growth hormone (GH) release in lower vertebrates, we employed an in vitro technique using a monolayer cell culture system of rainbow trout pituitary glands. Two newly purified carp brain growth hormone-releasing factors, carp GRF(1-45) and carp GRF(1-29), and synthetic somatostatin-14 (SST-14) were applied to the cultured pituitary cells. The results indicate that: (1) The carp GRFs had a dose-related potency in stimulating growth hormone release. The dose of half maximum effect (ED50) for carp GRF(1-45) was 0.107 nM, and an equal potency for carp GRF(1-29) was 0.388 nM. (2) SST-14 inhibited GH release having a dose-dependent potency with an ED50 of 0.186 nM. (3) Osmotic pressure did not influence SST-14 inhibited GH secretion but did affect spontaneous GH release. (4) The response of cultured cells was not affected by length of incubation period with SST-14 or carp GRF but was affected by cell density.

Plasma growth hormone levels increase during seawater exposure of sexually mature Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar L.)

At the time of smoltification in May, smolts and sexually mature male parr were transferred to seawater (25% salinity) and sampled after 6 and 24 hr. Plasma levels of growth hormone (GH) were measured by radioimmunoassay. There was no difference in GH levels between smolts and mature parr in fresh water. GH levels did not change during exposure of smolts to seawater. In the mature male parr, plasma GH levels increased after 24 hr, when the levels were almost five times those of the freshwater controls. In the mature male parr, there was an increase in plasma osmolality, sodium, and magnesium after 24 hr in seawater; magnesium also increased after 6 hr. The levels of potassium and calcium did not change in either immature parr or mature male parr. The increase in plasma GH levels in the mature parr in seawater may be part of a mechanism to increase hypoosmoregulatory ability in fish not ready for seawater entry.

Studies on the structure and physiology of salmon teleocalcin

The structure and physiology of salmon teleocalcin, a Ca(+2) regulating hormone from the corpuscles of Stannius (CS) is reviewed. Teleocalcin is produced by the PAS+, type 1 cells in the CS. The hormone is a disulfide-linked homodimer, with a unique amino acid sequence and a carbohydrate moiety on residue 29. The teleocalcin monomer has a MW of 30 KD, whereas the pro-form of the monomer is 32 KD. The hormone is positively regulated by Ca(+2) and its function is to slow the active transport of Ca(+2) across the gill epithelium. In conjunction with prolactin, which stimulates Ca(+2) transport, teleocalcin is one of the major factors involved in Ca(+2) homeostasis in fish.

Purification of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) GH for receptor study

A method for the purification of chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) GH, which retains its biological activity, is described. The biological activity was investigated with an established radioreceptor assay using liver membranes from pregnant rabbits and bovine GH as standard and labelled hormone. The enrichment of the preparation was checked with electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Extraction and further steps were carried out using low molarity alkaline buffer (pH 8-10, M = 100 mM). Three chromatography steps were performed (Concanavalin-A sepharose, Bio-gel P60, DEAE). Ion exchange chromatography was performed under isocratic conditions (using a 50 cm column). Two isoforms (sGH1 and sGH2) were isolated. The purification yield is 0.7% compared to lyophilized pituitaries. The molecule is homogeneous in SDS-PAGE. Contamination by prolactin, gonadotrophin and corticotrophin is negligible (< 0.5%). It could be demonstrated that the biological activity of the preparation is maintained since this preparation stimulates the growth of juvenile trout (Salmo gairdneri) and binds specifically (35%) to trout liver membranes.

Plasma kinetics of injected recombinant chicken somatotropin in juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) using a homologous radioimmunoassay

Although somatotropins are potent growth promoters in salmonids, there is little information on how these proteins are metabolized by poikilotherms. In the present study, the plasma uptake and clearance rates of recombinant chicken somatotropin (rcGH) were investigated in juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Two doses of rcGH were administered by intraperitoneal (ip) or intramuscular (im) injection and blood samples were collected over a period of 32 days. A specific radioimmunoassay was validated and used to discriminate rcGH from endogenous somatotropin. Plasma rcGH concentration was proportional to the dose delivered, but uptake and clearance rates were found to be independent of dose (between 0.5 and 5.0 μg/g). Absorption of rcGH into the plasma was faster from the im site, but the peak levels attained were similar after im or ip treatment (using the same dose) as was area under the curve. Plasma half-life was calculated from the declining phase of the uptake/clearance profile but the results were biased by the concurrent uptake of rcGH from the ip or im reservoir of material, resulting in an over-estimation of the true half-life value. Effective treatment doses and intervals are discussed.

Effects of hypophysectomy and subsequent hormonal replacement therapy on hormonal and osmoregulatory status of coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch

This study investigates the effects of hypophysectomy and subsequent hormone replacement therapy upon the hormonal and osmoregulatory status of coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, in 7% seawater (SW) and SW. Following hypophysectomy, coho salmon were injected every 2 days for 8 days with thyroxine, growth hormone, and cortisol, alone or in combinations, and sampled 2 days after the final injection. Increased environmental salinity raises plasma sodium, calcium, and magnesium levels, as well as plasma osmolality. Cortisol is hypercalcemic and thyroxine is hypocalcemic in hypophysectomized salmon, but it is unclear whether these effects are due directly to calcium regulation or are the consequence of general effects on the plasma osmotic/ionic balance. Growth hormone and thyroxine together, but not separately, decrease and increase magnesium levels, at low and high environmental salinities, respectively, indicating a complex endocrine control of plasma magnesium. Gill Na+, K+-ATPase activity in hypophysectomized salmon is stimulated by growth hormone and cortisol, but inhibited by thyroxine and raised environmental salinity. This implies a complex endocrine control and indicates that hormonal support is needed to sustain or raise gill Na+, K+-ATPase activity in seawater. Increased environmental salinity induces elevation of plasma cortisol levels in apparent absence of pituitary control, indicating that the interrenals may respond to changes in external and/or internal environment, either directly or indirectly through extrapituitary hormonal or nervous control. Cortisol is a potent inhibitor of calcitonin secretion, as seen by the large decrease in plasma calcitonin levels in cortisol-treated hypophysectomized fish. The study was carried out at a time when thyroxine plasma levels were low. These basal levels were not affected by hypophysectomy, possibly indicating a basal release of thyroxine from the thyroid without stimulatory support of the pituitary gland.

Growth hormone and seawater adaptation in coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch

1. Effects of growth hormone (GH) were examined on short-term aspects of seawater adaptation in coho salmon smolts. 2. Injection of somatostatin (SRIF) immediately prior to seawater entry suppressed plasma GH levels, but did not have any significant effects at 6 or 12 hr on hematocrits, plasma glucose or plasma Na+ levels. 3. Plasma GH levels increased 250% within 36 hr after seawater exposure. 4. Plasma glucose levels, in contrast, were significantly lower in the seawater fish after 36 hr post-exposure. 5. Plasma Na+ levels increased to 190 mEq/1 by 24 hr but subsequently returned to freshwater levels while hematocrits showed no significant changes over the 72 hr of exposure. 6. The significance of these results is discussed in terms of successful seawater adaptation in coho salmon.