Histochemical evidence for granulosa steroids in follicle maturation in the African catfish, Clarias lazera.

The effects of carp pituitary suspension (CPS) and 11-desoxycorticosterone-acetate (DOCA) on 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in the ovary of Clarias lazera are described. Strong 3 beta-HSD and G6PD activities are localized in the stroma, of both control and treated fish. A single CPS injection stimulates 3 beta-HSD activity in the granulosa of postvitellogenic, maturing and post-ovulatory follicles, but DOCA has no such effect on the postvitellogenic and maturing follicles, and only stimulates a weak response in the postovulatory ones.