Summary
Lectin-binding sites of the human pituitary adenoma cells were examined by electron microscopy in correlation with their functional states.
In this study used were 37 cases of the human pituitary adenomas which had been operated in our clinics from 1977 to 1979. They were divided into four groups: 13 cases of PRL-producing adenomas, nine of hGH-producing adenomas, three of ACTH-producing adenomas, and 12 of hormonal non-functioning adenomas. In parallel with the detection of the lectinbinding sites by means of the ferritin-labeling method, the basal levels of their secreting hormones were determined by the radioimmunoassay technique, and their producing hormones were characterized light microscopically by the immunocytochemical HRP-labeling technique.
The present study clearly shows that the ferritinlabeled, lectin-binding sites of the human pituitary adenoma cells prefixed with aldehyde are different in number between PRL- or hGH-producing adenoma cells and non-functioning ones. Morphologically resemblin, non-functioning adenoma cells and mixed somatotrophic and lactotrophic adenoma cells are definitely distinguished from each other by the findings of the ferritin-labeled RCA-binding sites' distribution pattern.
Lectins have been proved very useful to evaluate the membrane characteristics of the human pituitary adenoma cells in association with their functional states.
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Supported in part by a grant from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 1978/79 to T. Hori and by a Grant-in-aid for scientific research from the Japanese Ministry of Education to H. Hirano
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Hori, T., Nishiyama, F., Matsutani, M. et al. Lectin-binding sites of the human pituitary adenoma cells by means of the ferritin-labeling technique. Acta Neuropathol 56, 67–74 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691184
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691184