Changes in serum vitellogenin levels and immunohistochemical localization of vitellogenin in hepatic cells during ovarian development in the Japanese eel

ABSTRACT: The present study was designed to quantify changes in serum vitellogenin (VTG)levels and to localize VTG in hepatic cells immunohistochemically during artificial maturation of theJapanese eel Anguilla japonica . Hormone treatment resulted in a gradual rise in serum VTG levels,in which the highest values were attained at the migratory nucleus stage. Hepatocytes responded tohormone treatment by increased immunoreactivity; both staining area and intensity were enhancedwith ongoing gonadal development. Moreover, cytoplasmic vacuoles increased in number during arti-ficial maturation, occupying large areas inside hepatocytes. The unusual appearance of hepatocytesmay reflect the effect of artificial maturation. KEY WORDS: Japanese eel, lipovitellin, liver, vitellogenesis, vitellogenin. *Corresponding author: Tel: 81-298-50-2757. Fax: 81-298-50-2233. Email: okumura.hiromi@nasda.go.jp a Present address: Space Utilization Research Program,National Space Development Agency of Japan, Tsukuba, Ibaraki305-8505, Japan.Received 24 October 2000. Accepted 9 February 2001.

[1]  Yuzuru Suzuki,et al.  Time-course response of plasma testosterone and estradiol-17β to salmon gonadotropin treatment in the Japanese eel during ovarian development , 2000 .

[2]  Yuzuru Suzuki,et al.  Adequate interval of sGTH administration to induce vitellogenesis, and induction of ovulation by simultaneous administration of sGTH and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone in the Japanese eel , 2000 .

[3]  K. Yamauchi,et al.  The Establishment of a Quantitative RT-PCR Assay for Estrogen Receptor mRNA in Japanese Eel, Anguilla japonica , 1998 .

[4]  K. Yamauchi,et al.  Pretreatment Reproductive Stage and Oocyte Development Induced by Salmon Pituitary Homogenate in the Japanese Eel Anguilla japonica. , 1998 .

[5]  H. Ohta,et al.  Changes in fertilization and hatching rates with time after ovulation induced by 17, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica , 1996 .

[6]  K. Yamauchi,et al.  Changes in serum steroid hormones and steroidogenic ability of ovarian follicles during artificial maturation of cultivated Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica , 1995 .

[7]  K. Yamauchi,et al.  Specific Antibodies against Synthetic Peptides of Salmonid GTH I and II β Subunits , 1995 .

[8]  H. Ohta,et al.  The First Report of Eel Larvae Ingesting Rotifers , 1995 .

[9]  K. Yamauchi,et al.  Development of a Sensitive Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for Vitellogenin in the Japanese Eel Anguilla japonica , 1995 .

[10]  K. Yamauchi,et al.  Changes in Serum Steroid Hormones and Vitellogenin Levels in Cultured Female European Eels Anguilla anguilla during Artificially Induced Ovarian Development , 1994 .

[11]  V. Lamba,et al.  Role of testosterone, estradiol-17 beta, and cortisol during vitellogenin synthesis in the catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch). , 1982, General and comparative endocrinology.

[12]  Y. Nagahama,et al.  Estradiol-17 beta production in amago salmon (Oncorhynchus rhodurus) ovarian follicles: role of the thecal and granulosa cells. , 1982, General and comparative endocrinology.

[13]  N. Bromage,et al.  Relationships between serum levels of gonadotropin, oestradiol-17 beta, and vitellogenin in the control of ovarian development in the rainbow trout. II. The effects of alterations in environmental photoperiod. , 1982, General and comparative endocrinology.

[14]  J. Lambert,et al.  Annual changes in plasma and liver in relation to vitellogenesis in the female rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. , 1981, General and comparative endocrinology.

[15]  K. Yamauchi,et al.  Cultivation of larvae of Japanese eel , 1976, Nature.

[16]  S. Egusa,et al.  Histological Changes Observed in Glass Eel Liver during Starvation , 1967 .

[17]  J. Heremans,et al.  Immunochemical quantitation of antigens by single radial immunodiffusion. , 1965, Immunochemistry.