The pars distalis from the pituitary gland of adult male ruin lizards (Podarcis sicula campestris De Betta), captured during the reproductive period (May and June), was studied immunohistochemically using specific antibodies against hFSH beta, hLH beta and oLH beta with the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) procedure to determine the localization of both gonadotropins. The immunostaining with anti-hFSH beta and anti-hLH beta allowed identification of morphologically distinct FSH containing cells and LH containing cells, whereas anti-oLH beta serum showed cross-reactivity with cells immunostained with the anti-hFSH beta and anti-hLH beta sera. The gonadotropic cells took up approximatively 10.5% of the area of the pars distalis: 10% was positive for FSH, whereas only 0.5% was positive for LH. The FSH cells were distributed throughout the pars distalis, whereas the LH cells were only located in the rostral region. Double-immunostaining procedure did not reveal cells containing both gonadotropic hormones. The findings indicate that FSH and LH are produced in separate pituitary cells.