Cytological Changes in the Pituitary Gland of the Adult Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) after Gonadectomy

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Abstract
Effects of gonadectomy on the cytological structure of the pituitary gland of sockeye salmon were investigated. Castration of fully grown, but sexually immature, fish appeared to prevent differentiation of any periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) positive cells. On the other hand, castration of mature sockeye induced degranulation of this cell type. These cells later disintegrated. Although the acidophil cells of the proximal pars distalis in the immature castrates showed an apparent increase in number, those in the gonadectomized ripe fish exhibited marked hyperplasia and hypertrophy. In view of the "rejuvenation," including the considerable increase in body weight that occurs after castration of sexually ripe sockeye, it is thought that the changes in the acidophils noted in this experiment may reflect an increased production of growth hormone. Where the gonadectomy was incomplete it was noted that very small remnants of gonad were able to induce, or maintain, all the external secondary characteristics of full sexual maturity. The pituitary of these fish exhibited cytological features intermediate between those of the controls and the complete castrates.