PITUITARY SIDEROSIS - HISTOLOGIC, IMMUNOCYTOLOGIC, AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 93  (2) , 295-310
Abstract
Pituitaries of 6 patients with various Fe overload states were studied by morphologic techniques, including immunostaining and EM. The immunoperoxidase technique combined with the prussian blue reaction revealed Fe deposition in all 5 adenohypophyseal cell types, indicating that Fe uptake per se does not entirely block hormone storage. Fe distribution was uneven; more iron was demonstrated in PAS[periodic-acid Schiff]-positive cells than in organgeophils, and a preferential localization was disclosed in the gonadotrophs. In 2 cases of hemochromatosis, reduction of pituitary gonadotrophs was implicated in the genesis of hypogonadism. By EM Fe particles were noted in the cytoplasm of various adenohypophysiocytes, partly incorporated into lysosomes. Some adenohypophysiocytes with Fe accumulation showed degranulation by light and electron microscopy and decreased hormone storage by the immunoperoxidase technique. Although these changes may be causally related to Fe deposition, more work is required to prove that Fe has a direct toxin effect on adenohypophyseal cells.