Light and electron microscopical morphometry of pituitary adenomas in hyperprolactinemia.

Two highly differentiated acidophil prolactin-cell adenomas with hyperprolactinemia (group I), 8 large cell chromophobe adenomas with hyperprolactinemia (group II), and 2 small cell chromophobe adenomas (group III), one of which was combined with hyperprolactinemia, were studied immunohistologically. Morphometry was performed on the light- and electron microscopical level. The 11 active adenomas were immunohistologically positive for prolactin, the 12th adenoma with normal prolactin plasma level was negative for prolactin. Light microscopical morphometry displayed significantly more cells of smaller size in the "small cell chromophobe" adenomas, whereas the large cell chromophobe adenomas and the highly differentiated prolactin cell adenomas were not different. Ultrastructural morphometry demonstrated significant differences between highly differentiated prolactin cell adenomas (group I), and large cell chromophobe adenomas (group II). The latter contain smaller "relative volumes" of nucleoli and of secretory granules, whereas the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi fields and the nuclei were not different. Comparison of large cell chromophobe adenomas (group II), and small cell chromophobe adenomas (group III) revealed significantly larger relative volumes of nuclei and of mitochondria but smaller volumes of rough endoplasmic reticulum and of Golgi fields in the small cell chromophobe adenomas. Significant differences between the active and the inactive adenoma of small cell chromophobe type in the group III were not found. In spite of the low quantity of small cell chromophobe adenomas and of acidophil prolactin cell adenomas, our data demonstrate that there exist distinct and significant light microscopical and ultrastructural differences between the three adenoma types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Twin pregnancy following bromocriptine in an acromegalic patient staying sterile after removal of a pituitary adenoma. Immunocytochemical study of the tumor (author's transl)]. / Grossesse gemellaire après bromocriptine chez une acromégale restée stérile après exérèse d'un adénome hypophysaire. Etude de la tumeur en immunofluorescence.

A pituitary adenoma was removed from a young woman who had acromegaly with galactorrhea-amenorrhea. Postoperatively, the dysmorphic acromegalic syndrome and galactorrhea decreased but amenorrhea, elevated serum GH and PRL concentrations remained. After Bromocriptine administration (5 mg daily) GH and PRL levels became normal, vaginal bleeding ensued within 3 months and a twin pregnancy was induced. An immunocytochemical study of the pituitary adenoma revealed the presence of two well defined, distinct cell types, each secreting one hormone with large preponderance of GH cells.

[A case of male acromegaly with galactorrhea].

A 43-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with complaints of headache and nasal obstruction. He has noted increasing hand and foot size with decreasing libido and pollakiuria for ten years. On admission, he showed galactorrhea. His visual symptoms were slightly decreased. Endocrinological evaluation revealed high serum levels of GH and prolactin. A plain skull X-ray showed acromegalic features with remarkable destruction of dorsum sellae. A contrast enhanced CT demonstrated an intrasellar high density mass extending to the sphenoid sinus and the right ethmoidal sinus. A cerebral angiogram was nor.al. Surgery was then performed with the transsphenoidal approach. A soft reddish brown mass was found in the sphenoid sinus and the bilateral cavernous sinus extending from the sella turcica. Histologically the tumor was eosinophilic adenoma. There were numerous cells exhibiting immunostaining for both GH and PRL in the immunocytochemical study. Postoperative course was uneventful. His visual impairment improved soon after the operation. Serum GH and PRL levels decreased to 38 and 130 ng/ml. He was treated with conventional irradiation (500 rads), so remained galactorrhea and hyperhidrosis. One year after the operation, there is no regrowth of the residual tumor.

Ultrastructure of tubular inclusions in endothelial cells of pituitary tumors associated with acromegaly.

Tubular inclusions were present in 13 out of 43 pituitary adenomas of acromegalic patients and in a single chromophobe pituitary adenoma. There were none in 76 other pituitary adenomas with differing endocrinological symptomatology. The arrays were usually located in the perinuclear cistern of capillary endothelial cells. The tubule diameter in osmium fixed material measured 19-26 nm and the light core averaged 6-11 nm. A longitudinal period of about 4.5 nm could be demonstrated with PTA block staining. Fixation with glutaraldehyde and block staining with ethidium bromide as well as permanganate fixation followed by RNAse treatment showed only the core of the tubules consisting of globular subunits. Several histochemical reactions (perchloric acid extraction, methenamine-silver staining, trypsin and DNAse digestion of frozen sections) suggested that the particles consist of a core of DNA coated with protein. No virus multiplication could be detected in cell cultures or in mice innoculated with fresh tumor material. No significant antibody titers against several virus antigens could be demonstrated.