DETERMINATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE-LIKE GONADOTROPHIC ACTIVITY WITHIN THE DOGFISH PITUITARY GLAND BY MEANS OF THE XENOPUS OOCYTE MEIOSIS ASSAY

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Abstract
Stimulation of meiosis in Xenopus oocytes can be used as a bioassay method for progesterone and gonadotrophins (Thornton, 1971). The use of this method in the investigation of the functional subdivision of the elasmobranch pituitary gland is described. The pars distalis of the dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) consists of a main portion in contact with the hypothalamus and in communication with it via portal vessels, and a ventral lobe attached to the main body of the gland by a slender stalk but having no neural or vascular connexion with the hypothalamus (Mellinger, 1963; Meurling, 1967). Ablation experiments have shown the ventral lobe to be an important gonadotrophic region (Dodd, Evennett & Goddard, 1960). Recently Scanes, Dobson, Follett & Dodd (1972), using chick testis 32P incorporation assay, demonstrated that gonadotrophic activity was confined to the ventral lobe. Hence it has been suggested that control of the pituitary—gonadal system in elasmobranchs might

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