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.