The localization of labelled fish prolactin in various tissues of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Rostral lobes of the pars distalis from rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, were incubated in vitro in a medium containing 14C-labelled lysine. The labelled proteins in these lobes and medium were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the prolactin eluted from the appropriate band, and injected into intact trout. Following the injections, various tissues were dissected out and observed autoradiographically. There was no binding of labelled prolactin to tissues of pituitary gland, thyroid, pyloric caecum, stomach, pancreas or muscle. There was, however, significant labelling in liver, intestine, kidney, bladder, skin and gill. The binding of labelled chum salmon prolactin to these latter tissues in vitro was significantly reduced when unlabelled hormone was also added.