Finfish Breeding and Hatchery Management

Collection of pituitary gland:

● Fish pituitary gland can be collected by dissecting and removing a portion of the scalp or through the Foramen magnum.

Fish pituitary gland collection by dissecting and removing a portion of the scalp :

● Cut the brain case (cranium) obliquely using a butcher’s knife or hand saw or bone cutter and remove the scalp (skull)
● Then expose the brain by removing blood, grey matter and fatty substance with foreceps and cotton.
● Detach the anterior end, i.e. optic and  olfactory nerves, of the brain using foreceps and lift the entire brain up and lay it back to expose the pituitary under a membrane.
● Now remove the membrane and the fluid using cotton to completely expose the pituitary.
● Lift  the pituitary up by inserting the blunt end of the foreceps under the gland and carefully transfer to a vial containing preservative, i.e. absolute alcohol.