Effects of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin on the in-vitro uptake of sulphate by eel branchial cartilage: evidence for the presence of independent hepatic and pancreatic sulphation factors.

The possible roles of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin in regulating cartilage growth were studied in the teleost Anguilla japonica. Significant sulphation activity was found in the extracts of pancreas, liver and muscle, but not in those of kidney, intestine or spleen. The hepatic sulphation activity was significantly decreased by hypophysectomy or by fasting for 14 days, suggesting that this activity is regulated by pituitary function and nutritional status. Northern blot analysis revealed that the hepatic IGF-I mRNA in the eel consists of a major 4.0 kb band. This mRNA was GH-dependent and was significantly decreased by fasting for 14 days. On the other hand, fasting for 14 days had no significant effect on pancreatic sulphation activity. Pancreatic extracts from both intact and hypophysectomized eels exhibited equally significant stimulating activity. Addition of bovine or human insulin (1-250 ng/ml) to the culture medium significantly stimulated sulphate uptake in a dose-dependent manner. Teleost (coho salmon) insulin was as effective as bovine insulin. Bovine insulin was more effective than IGF-I at lower concentrations (1-4 ng/ml) but less effective at higher concentrations (10-250 ng/ml). These results indicate that not only IGF-I but also insulin are likely to be involved in the regulation of cartilage growth in the eel.