CORTICOLIPOTROPIN IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN SILENT CHROMOPHOBE ADENOMAS - A LIGHT AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 106  (1) , 25-30
Abstract
Twenty silent human pituitary adenomas were morphologically studied. Immunoperoxidase methods showed numerous adrenocorticotropic hormone-immunoreactive tumor cells in 14 cases by light microscopy and in 1 additional case by EM. Three of these cases were positive for .beta.-endorphin and one for .beta.-lipotropin by EM. These immunoreactions were found in undifferentiated tumors as well as in oncocytic adenomas, and could not be related to the presence of basophils by light microscopy. The peptides so detected in silent adenomas may have no biological activity and may correspond to common precursor molecule subunits.

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