Summary
Intracellular lectin (Con A)-binding sites of human pituitary adenoma were examined by electron microscopy using the horseradish-peroxidase (HRP)-labelling technique.
In this study were used 16 cases of human pituitary adenomas operated on in our clinics between 1977 and 1981: they concluded 4 each of PRL-, GH-, ACTH-producing and hormonal non-functioning adenomas. In parallel with the detection of lectin-binding sites, basal levels of their secreting hormones were determined by the radioimmunoassay technique, and their producing hormones were characterized light microscopically by the immunocytochemical HRP-labelling technique.
In the present study, for hormonal functioning adenoma cells, mature or large granules of each specific type of adenoma cells had no definite Con A-binding sites. On the other hand, immature or small secretory granules of RPL- or GH-producing adenoma cells showed a positive reaction with Con A.
ACTH-producing adenomas so far examined revealed no definite binding sites.
Some variable results were obtained concerning non-functioning adenomas.
Lectins have been and will be very useful in the detection of different subtypes of adenomas in each specific group.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boland RC, Montgomery CK, Kim YS (1982) Alterations in human colonic mucin occurring with cellular differentiation and malignant transformation. Proc Natl Acad Sci 79: 2051–2055
Elipper BA, Mains RE, Guenzi D (1976) High molecular weight forms of adreno-corticotropic hormone are glycoproteins. J Biol Chem 251: 4121–4126
Elipper BA, Mains RE (1978) Existence of a common precursor to ACTH and endorphin in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the rat pituitary. J Supramol Struct 8: 247–262
Farquhar MG, Skutelsky EH, Hopkins CR (1975) Structure and function of the anterior pituitary and dispersed pituitary cells. In: Tixier-Vidal A, Farquhar MG (eds) In vivo studies in the anterior pituitary. Academic Press, New York, pp 83–135
Guillonzo A, Feldmann G (1977) Surface and intracellular localization of concanavalin A binding sites in rat liver cells. J Histochem Cytochem 25: 1303–1310
Guy J, Leclerc R, Pelletier G (1980) Localization of a 16,000-dalton fragment of the common precursor of adrenocorticotropin and β-lipotropin in the rat and human pituitary gland. J Cell Biol 86: 825–830
Hirano H, Parkhouse B, Nicolson GL, Lennox ES, Singer SJ (1972) Distribution of saccharide residues of membrane fragments from a myeloma-cell homogenate: Its implications for membrane biogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci 69: 2945–2949
Hori T, Nishiyama F, Matsutani M, Teramoto A, Takakura K, Sano K, Hirano H (1982) Lectin-binding sites of the human pituitary adenoma cells by means of the ferritin-labeling technique. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 56: 67–74
Horvath E, Kovaks K, Singer W, Smyth HS, Killinger DW, Ezrin C, Weiss MH (1981) Acidophil stem cell adenoma of the human pituitary: Clinicopathologic analysis of 15 cases. Cancer 47: 761–771
Inoue K, Kurosumi K (1980) Electron microscopic demonstration of carbohydrate components in the cells of thyroid follicles and anterior pituitary by concanavalin A-iron dextran technique. Acta Histochem Cytochem 13: 173–180
Komuro M, Shioda T (1981) Localization of sialic acid-containing hormones in GTH cells and ACTH cells of the rat anterior pituitary. Cell Tissue Res 220: 519–528
Martinez AJ, Lee A, Moossy J, Maroon JC (1980) Pituitary adenomas: Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study. Ann Neurol 7: 24–36
Neutra M, Leblond CP (1966) Radioautographic comparison of the uptake of galactose-H3 and glucose-H3 in the Golgi region of various cells secreting glycoproteins or mucopolysaccharides. J Cell Biol 30: 137–150
Olivier L, Vila-Porcile R, Racadot O, Peillon F, Racadot J (1975) Ultrastructure of pituitary tumor cells: A critical study. In: Tixier-Vidal A, Farquhar MG (eds) In vivo studies in the anterior pituitary. Academic Press, New York, pp 231–276
Pelletier G (1971) Détection des glycoproteines dans les cellules corticotropes de l'hypophyse du rat. J Microsc (Paris) 11: 327–330
Rambourg A (1969) Localisation ultrastructural et nature du materiel coloré au niveau de la surface cellulaire par le mélange chromique-phosphotungustique. J Microsc (Paris) 8: 325–342
Yokoyama M, Nishiyama F, Kawai N, Hirano H (1980) The staining of Golgi membranes with Ricinus Communis agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate in mice tissue cells. Exp Cell Res 125: 47–53
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hori, T., Nishiyama, F., Teramoto, A. et al. Localization of concanavalin A binding sites in human pituitary adenoma cells as revealed by HRP-labelling method. Acta Neuropathol 62, 59–66 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684921
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684921