FAILURE TO DETECT LEVELS OF VASOTOCIN SIMILAR TO THOSE IN AMPHIBIANS IN THE PLASMA OF THE EEL, ANGUILLA ROSTRATA

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Abstract
The neurohypophysis of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), like other teleost fish, contains the peptides vasotocin and ichthyotocin (isotocin) (Follett & Heller, 1964). In mammals, analogous peptides can be released into the circulation where they have an endocrine role in processes of water metabolism and reproduction. Vasotocin appears in the plasma of anuran Amphibia (frogs and toads) in response to osmotic stimuli and this is consistent with their role in water conservation (Bentley, 1969a). The role of the neurohypophysial peptides in fish is uncertain and there are no reports of attempts to demonstrate their appearance in the circulation. Eels (Anguilla rostrata) were kept in running tap water at about 17 °C. Blood was collected through polyethylene cannulae (PE50) which had been inserted under MS 222 anaesthesia into the pneumogastric artery. The extraction of the plasma and neurohypophyses, assay of the hydro-osmotic activity using the toad urinary bladder in vitro

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