Hormonal influences on in vitro [(35)S]-sulfate uptake by gill arches from the goldfish (Carassius auratus L.).

A bioassay for insulin-like growth factor (IGF), based on the in vitro incorporation of [(35)S]-sulfate into gill arch tissue was used to study the hormonal regulation of proteoglycan synthesis in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). [(35)S]-sulfate incorporation into gill arch tissue was found to be time-dependent with maximal uptake occurring by 48h, suggesting that proteoglycan synthesis in this tissue was maintained for at least 48h in vitro. The addition of human recombinant IGF-I (IGF-I) to the incubation medium was found to significantly stimulate [(35)S]-sulfate uptake into the gill arches, whereas bovine growth hormone (GH) was without effect. Porcine insulin was also stimulatory, but results indicate that the effects of porcine insulin and IGF-I may be mediated by a single receptor system. Finally, arches from hypophysectomized fish were significantly less responsive to IGF-I than were arches from sham-operated fish. Furthermore, administration of ovine GH in vivo appeared to increase subsequent responsiveness in vitro. Together, these results provide evidence that the growth-promoting actions of GH in the goldfish may be mediated, at least in part, by a peptide related in structure to mammalian IGF-I.