STIMULATION OF S-35 SULFATE UPTAKE BY MAMMALIAN INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-I AND FACTOR-II IN CULTURED CARTILAGES OF THE JAPANESE EEL, ANGUILLA-JAPONICA

Effects of mammalian insulin‐like growth factors I and II (IGF‐I and II) on 35S‐sulfate uptake by the branchial cartilage of the eel were examined in vitro. Addition of bovine IGF‐I to the medium stimulated sulfate uptake by the cartilage from hypophysectomized eels in a dose‐dependent manner (10–1,000 ng/ml). The cartilages from intact eels responded to IGF‐I similarly. Rat IGF‐II was about 50 times less potent than bovine IGF‐I in stimulating the sulfate uptake by cartilages from intact eels. These results show that sulfate uptake by eel cartilage is stimulated by a mammalian IGF‐I‐like principle and raise the possibility of regulation by a similar principle in teleosts. Copyright © 1990 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company