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Summary The iconic photograph ‘A Jewish giant at home with his parents in the Bronx, N.Y. 1970’ by the famous American photographer Diane Arbus (1923–1971) shows the 2.34 m (7 ft. 8¼ in.) acromegalic giant Eddie Carmel (1936–1972) and his parents in the living room of their New York home. The picture is a typical example of Arbus’ style. The relationship between the artist and the tall subject is described. A growth hormone-secreting pituitary macroadenoma was unsuccessfully treated with two cycles of pituitary radiotherapy achieving a 7000 rad cumulative dose and by incomplete pituitary surgery. Hypopituitarism was treated according to medical standards in the 1960s and 1970s. The giant patient died of increased intracranial pressure and at autopsy a residual acidophil pituitary macroadenoma was found, but also a perisellar meningioma which was most probably induced by the high dose of pituitary radiotherapy. The case report illustrates the possibilities and impossibilities of treating acromegaly 50 years ago and demonstrates the potential risks of high dose pituitary radiotherapy (in acromegaly). Learning points Acromegaly is a very old disease. Therapy for acromegaly has evolved over the decades. In art museums one can come across artistic impressions of endocrine disorders. People suffering from disfiguring endocrine disorders like acromegaly were pre-WW2 ‘exposed’ in theaters and circuses. High dose pituitary radiotherapy can be associated with secondary brain tumor formation.

In this article, we describe a very rare case of pituitary acidophilic stem cell adenoma, accompanied by a literature review. We present the case of 33-year-old woman with a history of amenorrhea, galactorrhea, elevated prolactin levels, and pituitary tumor. Despite suppression of prolactin levels with cabergoline, the pituitary tumor continued to increase in size and the patient developed clinical symptoms and biochemistry consistent with the diagnosis of acromegaly due to acidophilic stem cell adenoma, an extremely rare subtype of mixed growth hormone/prolactin adenoma, which behaves more aggressively and has a lower surgical cure rate compared to the pure GH-secreting adenoma. The patient had in vitro fertilization 2 years after the successful pituitary surgery and delivered healthy twins. To our knowledge, this is the only case report which describes acromegaly developing during cabergoline treatment. This case also highlights the importance of having a correct histopathological diagnosis to determine the behavior of the tumor and decide on further management.

Background: Infertility is a major health problem affecting human life. Multiple factors contribute to male infertility. The most important one is exposure to environmental contaminants (e.g. Bisphenol A (BPA)).Aim of the work: To study the possible protective effect of Omega 3 against BPA induced changes in the pituitary testicular axis in rats.Material and method: 30 adult male albino rats were used in the study. They were divided equally into 3 groups 10 animals each. Group I served as control. Group II received BPA in a dose 1.2 mg/kg orally 6 days a week. Group III received Omega 3 in a dose 0.4 g/kg subcutaneously in addition to BPA of the same previous dose and duration. At the time of sacrifice, all rats were anesthetized with ether.Blood samples were collected for estimation of testosterone, LH, FSH and prolactin. The testes and pituitary were dissected out and processed for histological and immunohistochemical study for Caspase 3, PCNA and prolactin. The number of Caspase 3 and PCNA positive cells were counted and statistically analyzed.Results: Marked decrease in serum LH, testosterone with marked increase in serum prolactin was observed in BPA treated group. Spermatogenic cells were disorganized and degenerated. Spermatids had fragmented pyknotic nuclei. A significant increase in the rate of apoptosis and a significant decrease in the rate of proliferation of germ cells were detected on BPA exposure compared to the control . Examination of pars distalis revealed degenerative changes in acidophils and basophils in group II animals with decreased intensity of reactive mammotrophs. These changes were ameliorated in group III by administration of Omega 3 fatty acids.Conclusion: Omega 3 may protect against BPA hazardous effects through pituitary testicular axis pathway.

Summary Follicular cells (FCs) are thought to be agranular, non–hormone-producing stellate cells distributed throughout the adenohypophysis, occasionally arranged around colloid-filled follicles, and thought to be more prominent in the vicinity of necrosis and apoptotic cells. A distinct but similar cell type, the folliculostellate cell (FSC), is a sustentacular cell that is negative for keratins and stains for S100, GFAP, and SOX10. While several studies have examined FSCs in pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs), the distribution and derivation of FCs in these lesions is unclear. We examined the presence and distribution of FCs in 104 PitNETs obtained by trans-sphenoidal surgery, using immunohistochemistry for keratins as well as the full complement of immunohistochemical stains for tumor characterization. The tumors included 9 somatotroph, 5 mammosomatotroph, 7 lactotroph, 7 immature PIT1-lineage, 2 acidophil stem cell, 17 corticotroph, 53 gonadotroph, 2 null cell, and 2 unusual plurihormonal tumors. CK-positive FCs were only identified in gonadotroph PitNETs and were found in 12 (23%) of those tumors; all other tumor types were negative for FCs. FCs express keratins identified by CAM5.2, AE1/AE3, CK18, and CK19 antibodies. FCs were identified scattered singly among hormone-producing neuroendocrine cells, in small clusters of 3–5 cells and surrounding colloid-filled follicles, as well as linearly along intratumoral blood vessels. Sequential stains showed that FCs express nuclear SF1 and GATA3, transcription factors of gonadotrophs, and multiplex immunohistochemistry confirmed colocalization of SF1 in the nucleus of keratin-positive FCs. In this series, FCs were exclusively found in gonadotroph PitNETs and occurred in 23% of those tumors. Co-expression of gonadotroph transcription factors in FCs supports the concept of cellular plasticity and transformation of neoplastic hormone-producing neuroendocrine cells to FCs. Further studies are required to determine if and why gonadotrophs alone undergo this transformation, the function of these cells and whether they have prognostic value.

According to the WHO classification 2017 of pituitary tumors, adenomas are classified not only by structure and immunostaining for pituitary hormones but also by expression of the pituitary transcription factors Pit-1, T-pit, and SF-1. By these factors, three cell lineages can be identified: Pit-1 for the GH, prolactin, and TSH cell lineage, T-pit for the ACTH cell lineage, and SF-1 for the gonadotrophic cell lineage. By this principle, all GH- and/or prolactin-producing and all TSH-producing adenomas must be positive for Pit-1, all corticotropic adenomas for T-pit, and all gonadotrophic for SF-1. In adenomas without expression of pituitary hormones, immunostainings for the transcription factors have to be examined. If these are also negative, the criteria for an endocrine inactive null cell adenoma are fulfilled. If one transcription factor is positive, the corresponding cell lineage indicates a potential hormonal activity of the adenoma. So Pit-1-expressing hormone-negative adenomas can account for acromegaly, hyperprolactinemia, or TSH hyperfunction. T-pit-positive hormone-negative adenomas can account for Cushing's disease, and SF-1-positive hormone-negative tumors for gonadotrophic adenomas. The term atypical adenoma should not be used since the WHO classification of 2017. Now, criteria exist for the identification of aggressive adenomas with a potential worse prognosis. Some adenoma subtypes (sparsely granulated GH adenomas, densely granulated prolactin adenomas, sparsely granulated prolactin macroadenomas in men, Crooke cell adenomas, inactive ACTH adenomas, undifferentiated plurihormonal Pit-1-positive adenomas, and acidophil stem cell adenomas) are described as aggressive “per se” without necessity of increased morphological signs of proliferations. All other adenoma subtypes could also be designated as aggressive if they show signs of increased proliferation (mitoses, Ki-67 index > 3%–5%, and clinically rapid tumor growth) and invasion.

Pituitary glands from 141 feline autopsy cases were reviewed histologically. Adenoma and hyperplasia were the most common lesions at 13 cases each. Pituitary adenoma was more likely than hyperplasia to be associated with clinical evidence of endocrinopathy or an intracranial mass ( P < .001). A histochemical and immunohistochemical panel was applied to 44 autopsy- or hypophysectomy-derived pituitary adenomas in 43 cats from 2 diagnostic laboratories. Adenomas were differentiated from hyperplasia by the presence of disrupted reticulin fibers. One cat had a double (somatotroph and melanotroph) adenoma. Twenty somatotroph adenomas consisted of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-negative acidophils that expressed growth hormone; 16/20 had hypersomatotropism; 17/20 had diabetes mellitus. Eleven melanotroph adenomas consisted of PAS-positive basophils or chromophobes that expressed melanocyte-stimulating and adrenocorticotrophic hormones; 5/11 had hypercortisolism; 6/11 had diabetes mellitus. Eleven gonadotroph adenomas consisted of PAS-negative chromophobes that expressed follicle-stimulating and/or luteinizing hormones. Two thyrotroph adenomas consisted of PAS-negative basophils or chromophobes that expressed thyroid-stimulating hormone. Pituitary-dependent disease was not recognized in cats with gonadotroph or thyrotroph adenomas. The Ki-67 proliferation index in hypophysectomy specimens was lower in somatotroph than in melanotroph adenomas. Fourteen cats with hypophysectomy-treated somatotroph or melanotroph adenoma had an 899-day median survival time versus 173 days in 17 nonsurgical cases. After adjusting for age, adenoma size and type, hypophysectomized cats had an overall better survival time than nonsurgical cases ( P = .029). The study results underscore the value of hypophysectomy and trophic hormone immunohistochemistry in the treatment and classification of feline pituitary adenomas.

A 24-year-old woman with a large pituitary adenoma had amenorrhea and galactorrhea, but no physical stigmata of acromegaly despite slightly elevated serum growth hormone (GH) and normal serum prolactin (PRL) levels. Subtotal removal of the tumor cured galactorrhea and resulted in normalization of serum GH concentration. The question is raised whether amenorrhea and galactorrhea were related to excessive GH production in this patient. Absence of acromegaly might have been due to the short duration of the disease. The tumor was a chromophobic, periodic acid-Schiff-negative adenoma. Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed focal GH immunoreactivity and diffuse, weak signal for GH messenger RNA. By electron microscopy, the tumor showed no features of GH or PRL-producing adenomas. Two different cell types could be distinguished: the majority were similar to null cells, whereas a small number of cells resembled somatotrophs and lactotrophs, possessing many secretory granules and exhibiting exocytosis. On the basis of its ultrastructure, this tumor can be classified as an atypical acidophil cell line adenoma in which adenomatous null cells transformed to the differentiated cells capable of producing GH.

In many human cancers, p53 gene mutations are frequently occurring genetic abnormalities, which may be detected by immunohistochemical staining for p53 protein. In the present study, p53 immunoreactivity was investigated in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from human and animal pituitary tumors, using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique. No p53 was detected in 3 nontumorous human adenohypophyses or in 40 human pituitary tumors including 5 GH cell adenomas, 10 PRL cell adenomas, 2 mixed GH cell-PRL cell adenomas, 2 acidophil stem cell adenomas, 8 ACTH cell adenomas, 1 TSH cell adenoma, 1 FSH/LH cell adenoma, 5 null cell adenomas, 5 oncocytomas, and 1 plurihormonal adenoma. Twenty nontumorous and hyperplastic pituitaries of hGRH transgenic mice and 8 tumors in these transgenic animals were immunonegative for p53. All pituitary tumors found in AVP/SV40 transgenic mice contained p53 immunoreactivity in the nuclei, while the nontumorous adenohypophysis of one such transgenic mouse was negative. It can be concluded that p53 mutations are apparently not involved in the pathogenesis of human pituitary adenomas or of the pituitary tumors which develop in hGRH transgenic mice. However, pituitary tumors in AVP/ SV40 transgenic mice are accompanied by p53 expression.

Clinically inactive adenomas represent 30.7% of all pituitary tumors in our surgical collection of 616 cases. Ninety-six tumors were studied immunohistologically with many antibodies for their hormone content. Morphological classification of these adenomas reveals oncocytic adenomas in 42 cases (44%), small cell chromophobe adenomas in 33 (34%), large cell chromophobe adenomas in 14 cases (15%), undifferentiated mucoid cell adenomas in 4 cases (4%) and undifferentiated acidophil adenomas in 3 cases (3%). Immunohistological studies performed with the six pituitary hormones GH, prolactin, ACTH, TSH, LH and FSH and additionally with α-subunit demonstrated nearly all possible combinations of hormones in adenoma cells. The most frequently occurring (29%) was LH (in 3% of adenomas alone); α-subunit followed in frequency (24%), with FSH present in 21%. Combinations of 2 hormones were detected in 16%, of 3 in 13% and of more than 3 hormones in 2%. All 6 hormones and α-subunit were negative in 48% of adenomas. It must be concluded 1) that many clinically silent adenomas are LH- or FSH- or α:-subunit-positive and therefore probably originate from gonadotropic cells, and 2) that clinically silent adenomas of acidophil cell type or mucoid cell type are rare. Although many of these adenomas apparently do not secrete the hormone which they immunohistologically contain, determining the plasma levels of the gonadotropins, and especially the α-subunit in clinical studies, may obtain a suitable and helpful clinical marker in the diagnosis of “endocrine inactive” adenomas, and especially of their recurrences.

In histological studies on liver stiffness (LS), fibrosis shows the closest association with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.7 to 0.8. These fibrosis features include width and number of septa. Other extracellular deposits of elevated LS include amyloid. Fibrosis features are followed by signs of ballooning, accumulation of Mallory’s hyaline in the now called Mallory–Denk bodies that are largely stuffed with CK18 cytokeratin filaments. Features of ballooning are followed by signs of inflammation such as infiltrates of neutrophils or other inflammatory cells. In the context of inflammation, it is highly conceivable that both recruitment of more cells and increased perfusion (pressure) will cause LS elevation. Inflammation is followed by other histological features of cell death that are significantly associated with LS: microgranulomas, acidophil bodies, megamitochondria, glycogenated nuclei, and large lipo-granulomas. Notably, steatosis in form of large and small lipid droplets is not associated with LS. Some controversies may result from the fact that in many biopsied cohorts, steatosis often coexists with liver damage. When ruling out these confounders, fat can even have a negative impact on stiffness. Since steatosis is low in normal, healthy livers but also end-stage cirrhotic livers, it remains to be studied whether viscoelastic properties of fat have a biomechanical beneficial effect on disease progression.

Background: Acromegaly results from a persistent excess in growth hormone with clinical features that may be subtle or severe. The most common cause of acromegaly is a pituitary tumor that causes excessive production of growth hormone (GH), and rare cases are due to an excess of the GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) or the ectopic production of GH. Objective: Discuss the different diseases that present with manifestations of GH excess and clinical acromegaly, emphasizing the distinct clinical and radiological characteristics of the different pathological entities. Methods: We performed a narrative review of the published clinicopathological information about acromegaly. An English-language search for relevant studies was conducted on PubMed from inception to 1 August 2019. The reference lists of relevant studies were also reviewed. Results: Pituitary tumors that cause GH excess have several variants, including pure somatotroph tumors that can be densely or sparsely granulated, or plurihormonal tumors that include mammosomatotroph, mixed somatotroph-lactotroph tumors and mature plurihomonal Pit1-lineage tumors, acidophil stem cell tumors and poorly-differentiated Pit1-lineage tumors. Each tumor type has a distinct pathophysiology, resulting in variations in clinical manifestations, imaging and responses to therapies. Conclusion: Detailed clinicopathological information will be useful in the era of precision medicine, in which physicians tailor the correct treatment modality to each patient.

An excess of growth hormone (GH) results in accelerated growth and in childhood, the clinical manifestation is gigantism. When GH excess has its onset after epiphyseal fusion at puberty, the overgrowth of soft tissue and bone results in acromegaly. Persistent GH excess in gigantism also causes acromegalic features that become evident in the adult years. The causes of GH excess are primarily lesions in the pituitary, which is the main source of GH. In this review, we provide an update on the clinical, radiological and pathologic features of the various types of pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) that produce GH. These tumors are all derived from PIT1-lineage cells. Those composed of somatotrophs may be densely granulated, resembling normal somatotrophs, or sparsely granulated with unusual fibrous bodies. Those composed of mammosomatotrophs also produce prolactin; rare plurihormonal tumors composed of cells that resemble mammosomatotrophs also produce TSH. Some PitNETs are composed of immature PIT1-lineage cells that do not resemble differentiated somatotrophs, mammosomatotrophs, lactotroph or thyrotrophs; these tumors may cause GH excess. An unusual oncocytic PIT1-lineage tumor known as the acidophil stem cell tumor is predominantly a lactotroph tumor but may express GH. Immature PIT1-lineage cells that express variable amounts of hormones alone or in combination can sometimes cause GH excess. Unusual tumors that do not follow normal lineage differentiation may also secrete GH. Exceptional examples of acromegaly/gigantism are caused by sellar tumors composed of hypothalamic GHRH-producing neurons, alone or associated with a sparsely granulated somatotroph tumor. Each of these various tumors has distinct clinical, biochemical and radiological features. Data from careful studies based on morphologic subtyping indicate that morphologic classification has both prognostic and predictive value.

Today much attention is paid to the study of the pituitary ultrastructure of laboratory animals and humans. But there is not enough available literature to study the most important organ of internal secretion of productive animal. The aim of our work is to study the structure of the ultrastructure of cells of the anterior pituitary gland of cattle in the definitive period of postnatal ontogenesis. Histological, morphometric, and electron microscopic techniques were used to study the cellular composition of the anterior pituitary gland of cattle. It was revealed that the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland occupies 64 % of the entire pituitary parenchyma, while the posterior and middle lobes occupy 27% and 9%, respectively. After using general histological methods there are detected the functionally inactive chromophobes (41%) and chromophilic cells, which include acidophils (38%) and basophils (21%) in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The electron microscopic studies in the parenchyma of the anterior pituitary gland let find Somatotropes that differ in the presence of a large number of secretory granules in the cytoplasm. Lactotropes are less common than somatotropes and differ from them in larger secretory granules. Corticotropes, gonadotropes and thyrotropes with a minimum content of secretory granules are the least detected. All identified endocrine cells are at different stages of functional activity.

The significance of the quantity of acidophil bodies (AB) in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is not certain. We quantified AB in liver biopsies and examined the association with the diagnosis of NASH and other histologic features. We reviewed 157 liver biopsies from the NASH Clinical Research Network Database collected in 2006. One hundred twenty-seven biopsies were from adult patients. Diagnoses were 94 definite NASH, 40 borderline NASH, and 23 definitely not NASH. The total length and average width of the core biopsies were measured, and the biopsy areas were calculated (mm(2)). Total AB were counted, and mean AB count per mm(2) was calculated (AB/mm(2)) to derive acidophil body index (ABI). ABI was 0.04 (±0.08) in definite NASH and 0.02 (±0.05) in borderline/definitely not NASH groups combined (P = .02) in all 157 biopsies; similar findings were present in the 127 adult-only biopsies (0.04 ± 0.05 and 0.02 ± 0.05, respectively; P = .05). In all 157 biopsies, increased ABI was associated with greater lobular inflammation (P = .01) and many ballooned hepatocytes (P = .048). There was a positive relationship between ABI and high nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity scores, but this association was not statistically significant. There was no association between ABI and steatosis or fibrosis stage either in the entire cohorts or in the subset of adult patients. In conclusion, the density of AB is associated with lobular inflammation, ballooned hepatocytes, and the diagnosis of NASH in adult and pediatric liver biopsies, suggesting the implication of the apoptotic pathway in NASH-associated liver cell injury.

Light and electron microscopic studies revealed ciliation of the epithelium of the entire gastro-intestinal tract of Polypterus. Acidophil cells were found in the different regions of the alimentary canal, including its derivatives (the lungs and hepato-pancreatic ducts). Compared to other primitive forms and modern teleosts, the extreme fusion of the intestinal caeca in Polypterus, the ciliation and the overall dispersion of acidophil cells may represent a special organization inherited from a palaeoniscoid ancestor. Attention is also drawn to a possible channel of early evolution and function of the stomach diverticulum.

The Hawaiian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) is a seasonally breeding mammal whose pituitary gland resembles that of other Viverridae. Certain features, such as a prominent pars tuberalis interna and a double-layered pars intermedia forming a cup for the neurohypophysis, are unique. With the light microscope, five different cell types can be recognized in the pars distalis after staining with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-orange G. Two types of acidophils are seen, a small yellow-staining cell and a large angular orange cell. Two basophilic cells are also seen, one with fine PAS-positive cytoplasmic granules and the other with coarse PAS-positive granules in the cytoplasm. The last cell type seen is the chromophobe. Differential cell counts indicated an altered distribution of chromophils in the ventral pars distalis of the female mongoose with changing season and reproductive status, but the most striking change was a decreased percentage of basophils in the pars distalis during the nonbreeding season.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of prenatal administration of ethanol on cell count in pars distalis of pituitary gland in the rat pups. STUDY DESIGN Experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Anatomy, College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, Regional Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan, from April 2014 to April 2015. METHODOLOGY Sixteen female rats (Sprague Dawley) were selected by random sampling method. Rats were mated and divided into control group A and experimental group B. From gestational day 10 to 18, mother rats received intraperitoneal injection of ethanol (Group B) and normal saline (Group A). Mother rats were allowed to complete their gestation and deliver spontaneously. When pups were born, only male pups were selected for the study. They were reared till day five. At 5ᵗʰ; day, pituitary glands were taken out and histological study was done in PAS-OG stain. Cell count was made in unit area (10,000 μ2) of pars distalis of pituitary gland. Student t-test was applied for analysing the data of cell counts in unit area. RESULTS Mean acidophil count was reduced in experimental group (70.19 ± 11.4) as compared to control group (92.65 ± 8.52, p

In the context of the abnormal mass mortality of mussels in France since 2014, Flow CytoMetry (FCM) was used in 2015 and 2016 to study the DNA content and cell cycle characteristics of hemic circulating cells collected from 2000 mussels. The mussels were sampled from 12 wild and cultivated blue mussels stocks distributed along the French Atlantic coast from the south Brittany to Pertuis Charentais areas. During these surveys, various genetic abnormalities were frequently detected, and ploidy characteristics revealed contrasting profiles that corresponded to respective contrasting sanitary status, i.e. healthy mussels with high cytogenetic quality (HCQ) versus diseased mussels with low cytogenetic quality (LCQ). In the present work, FCM and hemocytology cell monolayer techniques were combined in order to determine the putative causes of the observed genetic abnormalities that were significantly associated with mortality levels. FCM and cell monolayer approaches permitted the definition of new threshold values delimiting HCQ mussels from LCQ ones. FCM histograms of mussels from the HCQ group showed one single or a largely dominant population of diploid (2n) nuclei and a large majority of normal hemocytes. Hemolymph cell-monolayer analyses showed predominantly acidophil granulocytes characterized by nuclei of normal size and a large cytoplasm with numerous granulations. In contrast, FCM histograms for the LCQ group showed, in addition to the normal diploid (2n) nuclei, populations of nuclei that displayed aneuploidy patterns in a broad ploidy range, including diploid-triploid (2–3n), tetraploid-pentaploid (4–5n) and heptaploid-octaploid levels (7–8n). The corresponding hemolymph cell-monolayer showed cellular features characteristic of disseminated neoplasia disease with frequent abnormal anaplastic cells that exhibited noticeable numbers of mitotic figures with both normal and aberrant chromosomes segregation patterns. These neoplastic cells were a rounded shape with a reduced, granulation-free cytoplasm and large (11–12 µm) to very large (up to 21 µm) round or ovoid nuclei that correspond to the 4–5n and 7–8n nuclei previously detected by FCM analyses. These characteristics suggest that the genetic abnormalities detected by means of FCM were related to an ongoing neoplastic process that is affecting blue mussels in France, at least since the onset in 2014 of the mortality that heavily impacted French blue mussels stocks.

Twenty pituitary adenomas were studied using light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Based on clinical manifestations of hormonal hypersecretion they were divided into two groups, i.e. group-I (12 patients) with no endocrine dysfunction and group-II (8 patients) with endocrine dysfunction. Group-I could be further sub-divided into two groups based on IHC : group LA in which no hormone could be localised in the tissue (null cell adenomas) and group IB where hormones could be localised in the tissue (1). Tumours in group II, with light microscopy, were acidophil (n=5), basophil (n=1) or mixed (n=2) adenomas. Eight of these 20 cases were plurihormonal. Growth hormone, and prolactin were the commonest combination. This study has helped in the reclassification of the pituitary adenomas according to the hormone they produce.

Among several bacteria examined in this study, a hyper acidophil and thermostable Micrococcus sp.NS 211 designated as M.Amy NS 211 was selected for production of amylase using starch agar plates with following incubation at 858C. Identification by 16SrRNA on selected bacterium disclosed the highest similarity for protean regions of this gene, 27 F and 1492R as Micrococcus sp.NS 211. Although activity of M.Amy NS 211 was established at temperatures between 70 and 1108C and pH ranges 1.2‐8.0, the optimum temperature and pH was achieved at 858C and 3.5 in sodium citrate buffer system respectively. Two-step chromatography was performed using (CM Bio-Gel A) and (Bio-Gel A-150) columns to purify 84 kDa hyper acidophil and thermostable a-amylase. SDS-PAGE analysis showed molecular mass and amylolytic activity as single band. Enhancement of enzyme activity was obtained in presence of 5 mM MnCl2 (298%), CaCl2 (347%), FeCl2 (211%), MgCl2 (253%), ZnCl2 (146%), NiCl (142%), NaCl (141%), Na-sulfate (153%) while inhibition was observed with (5 mM) EDTA, PMSF (3 mM), urea (8 M), and SDS (1%) at 143, 134, 43, and 119%, respectively. M.Amy NS 211 can be applied in laundry detergents, textile, and modern relevant industrial processes at extreme temperatures and under acidic conditions.

Cristaria plicata is one of the most important freshwater mussels for pearl production in China, whose hemocytes were characterized using light, phase contrast and electron microscopy. In accordance with the presence or the absence of granules in the cytoplasm, two main types of hemocytes were recognized, granulocytes and agranulocytes. The granulocytes possessed cytoplasmic granules, while agranulocytes had none or a few cytoplasmic granules. In addition, in line with the diameter of granulocytes and cytoplasmic granules, granulocytes were further divided into large and small granulocytes. According to the diameter of agranulocytes and the different N/C ratios, agranulocytes could also be divided into hyalinocytes and lymphoid hemocytes. The mean concentration of the hemocytes of C. plicata was about (2.37 ± 0.51) × 10 6 cell mL −1 . The two main cell types were small granulocytes (56.60% ± 1.41) and hyalinocytes (36.80% ± 2.11), while large granulocytes (4.20% ± 0.23) and lymphoid hemocytes (2.40% ± 0.12) were of the minority. With the rise of water temperature, total hemocyte counts showed a significant increase. The hemocytes presented different tinctorial properties for Wright's staining in smears. Small granulocytes and hyalinocytes exhibited acidophils and basophils, while large granulocytes and lymphoid hemocytes showed only acidophils and basophils respectively. Three types of hemocytes, large granulocytes, small granulocytes and hyalinocytes, could phagocytize yeast and Bacillus subtilis cells. Small granulocytes appeared to be more efficient in phagocytosis than large granulocytes and hyalinocytes, and large granulocytes showed to be more efficient than hyalinocytes. Water temperature had a great effect on the phagocytic ability of hemocytes.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a necrotizing lymphadenitis, involving young patients, predominantly females. Lymphadenopathy is usually localized, particularly in the cervical area, mostly unilateral and tender. Fever is present in one third of cases. Associated skin lesions, arthralgia, myalgia, splenomegaly or hepatomegaly are rare. Laboratory evaluation shows a slight increase of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and leukopenia. Kikuchi-Fujimoto has been reported in association with other diseases, including systemic lupus, Still's disease, hemophagocytosis, pregnancy, other autoimmune diseases, and cancer. A viral or bacterial origin has been suspected but not confirmed. Lymph node biopsy allows the diagnosis and shows necrotizing lymphadenitis with acidophil necrosis, CD68+ histiocyte infiltrate, presence of plasmacytoid monocytes, multiple apoptotic cells (CD8+ T cell) with nuclear dust, immunoblastic reaction and the absence of neutrophils or eosinophils. The disease course is usually spontaneously favourable in few weeks or months, requiring corticosteroids only occasionally.

The peripheral blood cells of a sisorid catfish Glyptosternum maculatum were studied using light microscope and transmission electron microscope. The size of cells and nucleus, and the percentage of different leucocytes were also described. Erythrocytes and four types of leucocytes: lymphocytes, heterophils, monocytes, and thrombocytes were characterized in G. maculatum blood. The dividing erythrocytes could be found sporadically. A plasma cell was observed under a transmission electron microscope. The morphology and structure of blood cells of G. maculatum were basically similar to those of other fish species, although there were also main differences, such as larger erythrocytes than other catfishes, absence of basophils and acidophils, and various types of thrombocytes (five types: lone nucleus, fusiform, tadpole-like, oval, and in a cluster).

We report a rare case of hepatic carcinosarcoma consisting of two carcinomatous components and four sarcomatous components. A 54-year-old Japanese man presented with sudden right upper abdominal pain. Computed tomography showed a hepatic tumor measuring 17 cm in the greatest dimension and intractable ascites, suggesting rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transcatheter arterial embolization was repeated at our hospital, resulting in stabilization of the patient's general condition. Right anterior and left median sectionectomies were performed. Histologically, the tumor consisted of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. The carcinomatous elements consisted of moderately differentiated HCC (positive for hepatocyte antibody, murine monoclonal anti-cytokeratin antibody, and alpha-fetoprotein and negative for S-100 and desmin) and adenocarcinoma (negative for cytokeratin 7 and positive for carcinoembryonic antigen). Sarcomatous elements consisted of undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma with acidophil striated cells including striped cells (desmin-positive), chondrosarcoma with cartilage matrix (S-100-positive), and osteosarcoma with osteoid. The sarcomatous elements were negative for epithelial markers. The patient is alive at 34 months after the operation with peritoneal dissemination. A total of 23 cases, including the present case, of hepatic carcinosarcoma have been reported in the English language literature. This is the third reported case of hepatic carcinosarcoma with heterogeneous carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements.

The distribution of cell types in the pituitary gland was studied in a consecutive autopsy series of men over 40 years of age. Among 166 individuals, not previously subjected to prostatic surgery or oestrogen treatment, the proportion of PAS-positive cells was higher in men with hyperplasia or neoplasia of the prostate than among individuals showing a histologically normal prostate. PAS-positive cell counts were negatively influenced by several factors related to wasting disease, while acidophil cells apparently increased in conditions of acute and severe stress. Using multiple regression analysis, benign prostatic hyperplasia was selected as the only one among histological diagnoses which significantly reduced the variability of PAS-positive cell proportion, even when the negative influence of other factors had been accounted for. PAS-positive cell counts did not effectively discriminate between the various forms of abnormal prostatic growth encountered. The data presented indirectly give support to the concept of some form of endocrine derangement in the ageing male.

Transsphenoidal adenomectomy was done on 125 acromegalics. A clinicomorphological study was performed on 113 of these patients. The distribution of morphological types of tumors was similar in both sexes. In the total group it was: sparsely granulated GH cell adenomas 52.8%, densely granulated 25.7%, mixed somatotroph and lactotroph adenomas 15.9%, plurihormonal adenomas 1.8%, acidophil stem cell adenomas 2.6%, and oncocytoma 1.8%. The GH plasma level in male patients was significantly higher than in female patients. In both sexes GH secretion was highest in patients with mixed GH and PRL cell adenomas followed by patients with densely granulated GH cell adenomas. Plasma PRL levels were significantly elevated in all males, except for those with densely granulated GH adenomas where prolactinemia was normal. The mean plasma PRL levels were also elevated in females with highest values in mixed somatotroph and lactotroph adenomas. The PRL levels in female patients with densely granulated GH cell adenomas are more elevated than in female patients with sparsely granulated GH cell adenomas.

The present study aimed to evaluate the pharmacological effects of Menoprogen in the management of menopausal symptoms for aged female rats. Menoprogen was supplemented to a group of elderly female rats for 8 weeks. Subsequently, histopathological examinations were conducted in the isolated uterine and ovary tissues and pituitary glands of the rats. Serum levels of estradiol (E(2)), progesterone (P), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined. The ultrastructure of the rat ovarian granulocytes was analyzed. The histopathological examinations revealed no statistical difference in the quantity of follicles in the ovary and of acidophil and basophil cells in the anterior pituitary gland of the Menoprogen-fed rats versus healthy normal rats. Moreover, the cellular morphogenesis was in a healthy state for the Menoprogen-fed rats. Menoprogen significantly increased the levels of serum E(2) and P but reduced FSH and LH levels. The electron microscopic analysis showed that Menoprogen significantly retarded apoptosis of the ovarian granulocytes of the rats. Further investigation of Menoprogen for the alternative treatment of menopausal symptoms is warranted.

A 44-year-old Japanese man with elevated growth hormone levels and gradual deterioration of mental and renal function was admitted to the hospital. With his deteriorated general condition and renal failure, the patient developed pulmonary thromboembolism and died of respiratory failure. Autopsy examination was conducted, which revealed abnormal accumulation or intracytoplasmic storage of lipid-rich material in the small blood vessels, kidney, heart, and nervous system. After postmortem pathologic studies, including light-microscopic histochemistry, electron microscopy, and biochemical analysis of the stored lipid contents, a final diagnosis of Fabry disease was made. Histopathologic examination revealed a unique vasculopathy characterized by the presence of abnormal intracytoplasmic lipid inclusions and vascular remodeling. With regard to the clinical presentation of acromegaly, hyperplasia but not adenomatous transformation of the acidophils of the anterior pituitary gland with immunohistochemical detection of growth hormone within the cells was noted. In this case, the complication of acromegaly with hyperplasia of the acidophilic cells of the anterior pituitary gland and the unique vasculopathy causing significant organ failure, mainly of the kidney, heart, and central nervous systems, possibly as a result of microcirculatory failure, are considered to be not incidental findings but to be intimately involved in the pathogenesis of Farby disease.

The smooth venus clam Callista chione is a commercially exploited bivalve species that lives on the sandy bottom of the Italian coast of the Northern Adriatic Sea. Currently, no information is available in the literature about the haemocytes of this bivalve species. In this study, we performed a morpho-functional characterisation of the haemocytes of C. chione. In freshly collected haemocytes, the total haemocyte count (THC) (measured by a Coulter Counter) varied markedly among individuals, and the mean number of haemocytes was 1.2 (×10(6)) cells mL haemolymph(-1). The mean values for the haemocyte diameter and volume were 4.2 μm and 77.8 fL, respectively. In some cases, higher THC values were related to a smaller haemocyte size, but no correlation was detected between the THC and haemocyte diameter or between THC and cell volume. Conversely, a positive correlation was observed between cell diameter and volume. Two haemocyte types were distinguished by light microscopy: granulocytes (76%), with evident cytoplasmic granules, and hyalinocytes (24%), with a few or no granules. After adhesion to slides and fixation, the cell diameter was approximately 10 μm for granulocytes and 7 μm for hyalinocytes. The granules of the granulocytes were stained in vivo with Neutral Red, indicating that they were lysosomes. The granulocytes and hyalinocytes were further distinguished as basophils and acidophils. Both the granulocytes and the hyalinocytes were able to phagocytise yeast cells. Of 2643 cells that were counted, 2007 (76%) showed phagocytic activity. The granulocytes and hyalinocytes were both positive for some hydrolytic enzymes, whereas they were not positive for peroxidase or phenoloxidase. The two types of haemocytes also produced superoxide anion. Overall, this preliminary study indicates that both the granulocytes and hyalinocytes of C. chione are immune effector cells.

Pituitary adenomas comprise a heterogenous group of adenohypophyseal tumours with distinct clinicopathological features across both the clinically functioning and silent groups. Although, predicting a clinically aggressive course remains challenging, accurate subtyping of pituitary adenomas offers valuable prognostic information that together with other clinical and radiological information serves as a platform for tailored treatment and follow-up. For instance, silent subtype 3 pituitary adenomas, silent corticotroph adenomas, acidophil stem cell adenomas, Crooke cell adenomas, and sparsely granulated somatotroph adenomas show more invasive growth. This review has been formulated as a set of practical questions that address the distinct clinical behaviour of a selected group of pituitary adenoma subtypes.

A study was conducted to assess pathological changes in endocrine glands induced by 1 and 1.5 ppm dietary levels of aflatoxin (AF) in Athulya layer birds fed for 21 days. The control and AF fed layer birds did not show any clinical signs and mortality except for irregular areas of calcium deposits on egg shell surface. The histopathological alterations included basophil depletion and acidophil prominence in the pituitary and diffuse capsular thickening, hypercellularity of cortical areas and multiple cytoplasmic vacuolation of cortical cell in adrenal glands. The sections of thyroid gland showed pale and thinner colloid mass in the follicles and interfollicular congestion. The histopathological alterations in the present study could be attributed to indirect hepatotoxicity of AF.

From a dissertation read before the Society on January 22nd. 1969. Growth hormone (GH) is secreted by the acidophil cells of the anterior pituitary. It is a protein, partially α-helix in structure, of molecular weight 29,000 in man (1 ). In addition to its effect in promoting growth several metabolic effects follow its administration, one of which, the mobilisation of free fatty acid (FFA) from adipose tissue, will be discussed in some detail. The radio-immunoassay methods for estimating GH (2, 3) which are the most sensitive and accurate now available, depend on the fact that radio-iodinated GH of high specific activity (4) competes with standard or test GH in plasma for binding sites on a γ-globulin in antiserum prepared in rabbits. The competition results in ‘bound’ and ‘free’ 131I-GH which are separable electrophoretically and counted for radio-activity. Inhibition curves relating bound: free ratios to standards are drawn and test samples assayed against them. There is good evidence that the assay is specific (5). Reactive material is elevated in acromegaly and is absent after hypophysectomy: jugular vein plasma contains more than inferior vena cava plasma: cross-reaction occurs between plasma samples only from species whose pituitaries contain cross-reactive material: acromegalic plasma acts just as a plasma dilution of pituitary extract.

Orexins-A and -B are hypothalamic peptides derived from a precursor called prepro-orexin and relationated with the stimulation of food intake. They act on G protein receptors named orexin receptor 1 (OX(1)R) and orexin receptor 2 (OX(2)R), respectively. In the present study, we used RT-PCR and immunohistochemical techniques to detect the presence of OX(1)R and OX(2)R in human pituitary. A band of the expected size for both OX(1)R and OX(2)R was shown in human pituitary by RT-PCR. The cellular localization of OX(1)R and OX(2)R was carried out using histological techniques. By consecutive sections we demonstrated that OX(1)R was present in acidophil, diffusely distributed cells, which represent the half of the total adenohypophysis cell population. As was expected, these cells were shown to coexpress GH. OX(2)R was found in the pars intermedia and in clusters of basophil cells of the anterior pituitary, which coexpress ACTH. These results were confirmed by double immunofluorescence techniques. We also found focal positivity in axon terminals of neurohypophysis, more intense for OX(2)R than for OX(1)R. In conclusion, these results demonstrated for the first time that OX(1)R and OX(2)R were expressed by somatotrope and corticotrope cells, respectively.

The inhibitory effects of dopamine on adenohypophysial cells are mediated via dopamine subtype 2 receptor (D2R). Dopamine agonists inhibit hormone release and induce tumor shrinkage in most prolactin-secreting adenomas, whereas in other adenoma types such effects are sporadic. We investigated D2R gene expression by in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunocytochemistry in different types of pituitary adenomas. By ISH, a variable D2R signal was detected in 79 of 89 cases: 4 of 6 densely granulated and 8 of 8 sparsely granulated somatotroph, 4 of 4 mammosomatotroph, 7 of 7 mixed somatotroph-lactotroph, 4 of 4 acidophil stem cell, 16 of 16 sparsely granulated lactotroph, 11 of 16 corticotroph (functioning and silent), 3 of 4 silent subtype 3, 5 of 5 thyrotroph, 5 of 6 gonadotroph, 5 of 6 null cell, and 7 of 7 oncocytic adenomas. By immunocytochemistry, D2R protein was localized in cytoplasm and nuclei of 60 of 62 adenomas. In lactotroph adenomas, long-acting bromocriptine (BEC-LAR) induced a major increase in D2R mRNA, which was not accompanied by increased D2R immunoreactivity, suggesting mRNA stabilization. In conclusion, D2R gene is expressed in the majority of pituitary adenomas representing all tumor types. The significance of nuclear localization of D2R protein remains to be clarified.

Objective: To explore the effect of combined acupoint desensitizing therapy.Methods: A total of 419 cases of allergic rhinitis accompanied with asthma were treated by combined acupoint desensitizing therapy with positive allergen extract on acupoints of head and upper back region.Results: After 3 courses of treatment, skin test repeated with responding allergen extract showed that the scope of redness and swelling of skin were smaller than those before treatment,P < 0.01. The3H-TdR incorporation lymphocyte transformation rate, acidophil count, IgA, IgG level and E-rosette formation rate of acupoint desensitizing group were different significantly from those of the two control groups (the acupoint 0.85% normal saline injection group and the subcutaneous desensitizing group),P < 0.01 orP < 0.05. Follow-up study for over 3 years showed that the markedly effective rate of the acupoint desensitizing group was 68.73%, the effective rate 29.12% and total effective rate, 97.85%. The effect was higher than that of the two control groups, P

Our purpose was to establish the earliest histologic parameters of acute hepatitis that correlated with recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in liver allografts. Histologic reviews of posttransplant liver biopsies from eight patients with pretransplant chronic HCV (group I) and eight with pretransplant non-HCV liver disease (group II) were performed and correlated with concurrent or subsequent presence or absence of HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Six of eight group I patients developed HCV-RNA positivity in liver and serum. Of the histologic parameters studied, the presence of Kupffer cell hyperplasia, spotty hepatocellular necrosis (acidophil bodies), or both, correlated the most with the earliest diagnosis of acute recurrent hepatitis. The postoperative time period for the earliest diagnosis of recurrent HCV was variable (34 to 123 days). These early indicators and the time of their appearance were not predictive of the course of the disease process or the final outcome of the patient. The recurrence rate of HCV infection in liver allografts is high. The presence of Kupffer cell hyperplasia and diffusely scattered acidophil bodies are reliable, early histologic indicators of an acute hepatitic process.

As part of the World Health Organization (WHO) ‘‘blue book’’ series, the recently updated endocrine volume includes a 38-page chapter on pituitary tumors [3], divided into concise multi-authored sections. New developments, remaining shortcomings, and future directions of research have been summarized by Al-Shraim and Asa in the current issue [1]. Overall, this newest ‘‘blue book’’ is superbly written, provides a wealth of useful information, and is sold at a readily affordable price, making it a bargain to anyone even remotely interested in pituitary pathology. As with other issues of the WHO series, current molecular data are well integrated with classic pathology and the entities are beautifully illustrated. The pituitary falls under the purview of both endocrine and neuropathology. However, given its intracranial location, the gland is biopsied by neurosurgeons. Therefore, despite crossing subspecialty boundaries, neuropathologists must be well acquainted with this area of endocrine pathology. In the current summary, we attempt to represent the working neuropathologist’s perspective. Pituitary adenomas can be classified on the basis of their gross/radiographic features (macrovs microadenoma, invasive vs noninvasive), hormone status (functional vs nonfunctional), cytology (acidophil, basophil, chromophobe), grade (typical, atypical, carcinoma), immunohistochemical/ultrastructural cell type (lactotroph, somatotroph, corticotroph, gonadotroph, thyrotroph), and molecular attributes (transcription factor, growth factor, and or tumor suppressor gene expression). Practicing neuropathologists are also aware of the wide morphological spectrum encountered routinely. Depending upon the histological pattern, particularly in nonfunctioning adenomas, one can consider diagnoses such as ependymoma, oligodendroglioma, meningioma, or even carcinoma, particularly if one is unaware of the sellar origin of the tissue sample. Despite the limitations of classifying adenomas by their tinctorial characteristics, as discussed in the introductory chapter of the WHO book [3], a more complete discussion of helpful morphological features is worthy of re-emphasis. For example, calcospherites (prolactinomas), eosinophilia or fibrous bodies (growth hormone adenomas), paranuclear vacuolation (acidophil stem cell adenoma), cytoplasmic basophilia or Crooke’s hyaline (corticotroph adenomas), pseudorosette formation (gonadotroph adenomas), and oncocytic change (gonadotroph or null cell adenomas) serve as clues to tumor subtype. Synaptophysin immunoreactivity was also emphasized as a more consistent broad spectrum neuroendocrine marker for pituitary adenoma than chromogranin [3]. This distinctive immunophenotypic feature is generally under appreciated. As common as pituitary adenomas are, it is surprising to see the current inter-institutional variation in diagnostic approach. This ranges from a single hematoxylin and eosin section and a final diagnosis of ‘‘pituitary adenoma’’ in virtually every case, to the ‘‘Cadillac approach’’ of a full pituitary hormone immunostain panel in nearly all instances and electron microscopy in selected cases. An interesting point highlighted in the review of Al-Shraim and Asa [1] is the histogenetic link between transcription factor expression in normal development and pituitary adenomas. Work in this area [4] has advanced our understanding of plurihormonal adenomas, such as the coexpression of growth hormone, prolactin and thyrotropin in the majority of acromegalyassociated adenomas, as well as the gonadotroph-like properties of so-called ‘‘null cell’’ adenomas. NonetheA. Perry (&) Division of Neuropathology, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8118, 660 S. Euclid Ave, 63110-1093 St. Louis, MO E-mail: aperry@wustl.edu Tel.: +1-314-3627426 Fax: +1-314-3624096

Liver biopsies are critical in managing patients after liver transplantation. One key histological pattern in transplant liver pathology is spotty hepatocyte necrosis without significant lobular inflammation, which is typical of recurrent hepatitis C. Over the past years, we have observed several liver biopsies with a pattern of injury that mimicked the histological findings of early recurrent hepatitis C. This pattern consisted of increased lobular hepatocyte spotty necrosis without significant inflammation, but with the additional finding of numerous concurrent mitotic figures. To better understand this unique pattern of injury, we studied a group of 8 liver biopsies with this pattern and a control group of 22 biopsies with typical recurrent hepatitis C. Hepatocyte apoptosis and mitosis were quantified by counting 10 high-power fields (HPFs). The mean interval between transplantation and biopsy was 62 days in both groups. There was no significant difference between the study and the control groups in portal and lobular inflammation. In contrast, there was more hepatic apoptosis (acidophil bodies) in the study cases than the controls (average of 10.3 vs 2.8 apoptotic bodies/10HPF; P=0.0004). Likewise, there were more mitoses in the study cases than the controls (average 6.3 vs 0.1 /10HPF; P

Blood and pituitary samples were collected from northern pike and walleye for immunocytological and radioimmunological measurements employing an antiserum to chum salmon growth hormone. The peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemical method showed that anti-chum salmon GH immuno-reactive cells were localized to the acidophil cells of the caudal pars distalis of the adenohypophysis in both species. Radioimmunoassays indicated that there was no observable difference between inhibition curves obtained using purified chum salmon GH and plasma from northern pike. However, plasma from walleye produced statistically different inhibition curves. These results are discussed with respect to phylogenetic differences and their usefulness as screening techniques for transgenic fish injected with salmon GH genes.

Growth hormone(GH)-producing pituitary adenomas are morphologically heterogeneous and frequently contain not only GH immunoreactivity but also variable numbers of prolactin (PRL) immunopositive cells. Paraffin sections of 59 surgically removed GH- and/or PRL-producing adenomas classified by histology, immunocytochemistry (ICC) and electron microscopy were studied using in situ hybridization (ISH) for GH and PRL mRNA and combined with ICC for the coded hormones. Somatotroph adenomas (10 densely and 10 sparsely granulated tumours) and mammosomatotroph adenomas (10 cases) contained both GH mRNA and GH immunoreactivity. In 4 densely and 4 sparsely granulated somatotroph adenomas and 4 mammosomatotroph adenomas, only GH mRNA and its product were found. In 28 cases (6 densely and 6 sparsely granulated somatotroph adenomas, 10 mixed somatotroph-lactotroph adenomas and 6 mammosomatotroph adenomas) both GH and PRL mRNA were present, although no PRL immunoreactivity was not in 2 densely granulated somatotroph adenomas. In these cases, ISH for PRL mRNA combined with GH immunostaining revealed the presence of variable numbers of mammosomatotrophs. In 9 acidophil stem cell adenomas only PRL mRNA and its product were found; one tumour expressed both GH and PRL mRNA and their products. Nine lactotroph adenomas contained only PRL mRNA and PRL immunoreactivity. The results show that GH and/or PRL mRNA content could not be correlated with ICC for coded proteins and ultrastructural features. The mammosomatotrophs were more numerous using ISH when compared with ICC. Somatotroph, mammosomatotroph and mixed adenomas are closely related and they can be considered to represent one basic tumour type originating in a cell committed to GH production. This may undergo clonal differentiation towards a mammosomatotroph and further to the lactotroph line. The results also indicate that lactotroph adenomas arise in a cell committed to PRL production. Acidophil stem cell adenomas seem to be more closely related to lactotroph cells than somatotroph.

Fugitive acromegaly is most commonly caused by pituitary acidophil stem cell adenomas, and is characterized by a relatively short clinical history, a large and locally invasive tumor, and relatively low hormonal activity. Here, we report an unusual case of fugitive acromegaly that initially presented as invasive prolactinoma. A 48-year-old man with a huge pituitary mass extending to the suprasellar area was referred to our hospital in December 2007. He had undergone transsphenoidal surgery in November 1999 because of a large invasive prolactinoma. The tumor had grown progressively, despite therapy with dopamine agonists. Subtle features of acromegaly were noted and serum IGF-1 levels were high (733 ng/ml). An oral glucose tolerance test revealed that basal and nadir levels of growth hormone (GH) were 1.56 and 1 ng/ml, respectively. As a therapeutic trial, long-acting octreotide (20 mg IM, monthly) was added, and the tumor size markedly reduced within 6 months on magnetic resonance imaging examination. Immunohistochemical staining of the tumor tissue obtained at the surgery in 1999 showed positive staining for GH and prolactin (PRL). Double immunofluorescence staining showed a mixed positivity for GH and PRL in the majority of tumor cells; however, the two hormones colocalized in a minority of tumor cells, indicating that the tumor was composed of three different cell types (GH, PRL, and GH/PRL). The diagnosis of fugitive acromegaly was initially overlooked in this patient because of normal serum GH levels and a lack of acromegalic features, although histological evidence for GH production was present. IGF-1 determinations would be helpful for the diagnosis of fugitive acromegaly.

The peripheral blood cells of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) were studied by light and transmission and scanning electron microscopic methods. Acidophilic erythroblasts and mature erythrocytes, round, oval, and fusiform thrombocytes, neutrophils, acidophils and basophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and monocyte-macrophages were characterized. A comparison of our light and electron microscopic results was carried out. The results were discussed with those for other fish species and the main modifications from the common vertebrate haematological pattern observed being considered.

Pituitary tumors producing GH and PRL are morphologically classified as monomorphous bihormonal acidophil stem cell adenomas (ASCAs) which cause hyperprolactinemia and two tumor types which are usually associated with acromegaly, the monomorphous plurihormonal mammosomatotroph adenomas (MSAs) and bimorphous mixed somatotroph-lactotroph adenomas. We studied 12 MSAs, 2 ASCAs, and 10 mixed adenomas in vitro to assess the secretory behavior of these tumors diagnosed by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. GH release by MSAs and all but one mixed tumor was greater than that of PRL; the opposite was true of the ASCAs. One mixed tumor which caused impotence and hyperprolactinemia contained predominantly lactotrophs and released greater amounts of PRL than of GH in vitro. All 12 MSAs and 6 of 10 mixed tumors released alpha-subunit of glycoprotein hormones. Incubation with GHRH increased release of GH and PRL by all tumors and of alpha-subunit when present; the responses of all hormones were parallel among MSAs whereas among mixed adenomas, GH and alpha-subunit had greater responses than PRL. TRH stimulated GH, PRL, and alpha-subunit release by MSAs in parallel; among mixed adenomas, PRL response was generally greater than that of GH or alpha-subunit. SRIH markedly reduced GH release by all MSAs; it inhibited GH and alpha-subunit release by mixed tumors more than it affected PRL. Bromocriptine inhibited GH, PRL, and alpha-subunit release by most MSAs and mixed tumors but did not inhibit GH or PRL release by ASCAs. This study demonstrates release of GH, PRL, and alpha-subunit by these morphologically classified plurihormonal tumors in vitro. Variable quantities of GH and PRL released by the different tumor types correlate with immunohistochemical and clinical data. The dynamic studies indicate that regulation of GH, PRL, and alpha-subunit release can be affected by GHRH, TRH, SRIH, and bromocriptine in these adenomas and suggest differences in receptor status. Our data strengthen the view that these three plurihormonal adenomas of the acidophil cell line are not only morphologically but also functionally different and warrant separation.

This report describes a pituitary acidophil macroadenoma in a goat. Antemortem clinical findings included hypothermia and rumen stasis. Clinicopathologic findings included refractory hypoglycemia, low total thyroxin and insulin concentrations, elevated bile acid concentration, and hyposthenuria. In addition to the pituitary macroadenoma, bilateral atrophy of the zona reticularis of the adrenal glands was observed histologically.

Insulin-like growth factors(IGF) are involved in feedback regulation of growth hormone(GH) secretion from the pituitary. Though receptors for IGF-I and IGF-II have been identified on particulate preparations of rat pituitary, their localization and relationship to GH-secreting acidophils has not been determined. We used quantitative in vitro autoradiography and immunocytochemistry to simultaneously determine the distribution of IGF receptors and GH-secreting cells in human infant pituitary gland. Frozen or fixed post-mortem human infant pituitary glands were sectioned for binding studies, or immunocytochemistry. Binding for IGF-I and IGF-II showed characteristic specificity for respectively Type I and Type II receptors. Binding sites were visualized throughout the pituitary gland, with similar density and distribution for IGF-I and IGF-II receptor sites. Receptor density was two-fold higher in anterior than posterior pituitary, with highest density in the lateral horns of the anterior pituitary. The distribution of GH-containing cells (acidophils) was similar to IGF receptor distribution. Increased density of IGF receptors in regions of GH-secreting cells may point to the mechanism whereby IGF uniquely inhibits synthesis of human GH in contrast to its promotion of synthetic processes in other cells.

The progression from nonpregnancy through late lactation is associated with an increase in the proportion of anterior pituitary cells that secrete PRL and a comparable decrease in the percentage of cells that release GH. These fluctuations result from variations in both the number of cells that release GH or PRL alone and mammosomatotropes, cells that release both hormones concurrently. However, it has not been determined whether this reciprocal shift in PRL and GH secretors during the onset of lactation is readily reversible. In the present study, anterior pituitaries from adult virgin, late lactating, or postweaning female rats (4, 6, or 8 days) were dispersed with trypsin and subsequently assayed for PRL and GH release using reverse hemolytic plaque assays. We found that separating lactating females from their pups for only 4 days induced a reciprocal shift in the proportions of GH and PRL cells back to levels found in virgin females. Simultaneous plaque assays were then performed to determine whether this post-weaning shift in the percentages of GH and PRL secretors was due to changes in the abundance of cells that secrete each hormone alone or in the proportion of mammosomatotropes. The overall changes in GH and PRL cell proportions consisted of variations only in the fraction of cells that secreted either GH or PRL alone; no differences were observed in the percentage of mammosomatotropes or in the overall abundance of acidophils. Our results demonstrate that the reciprocal shifts in the proportions of PRL- and GH-secreting cells associated with lactation are rapidly reversible. Moreover, these results are consistent with our hypothesis that PRL and GH secretors are functionally interconvertible and further suggest that this process is bidirectional.

We experienced a case of basal cell adenoma, a rare tumor of salivary glands. A 48-year-old man came to our hospital for a left subaural tumor as CC. Tumorectomy was carried out under a diagnosis of left parotid tumor. The tumor was found surrounded with fibrous capsule, in association with cystic formation. Histologically, the lumen presented ductal formation filled with acidophil substances, diagnosis being made as basal cell adenoma of tubular type.Basal cell adenoma, which represents about 2% of all sialotumors, is prevalent for females and for aged persons over 50 years old. Although we often have difficulties in the preoperative diagnosis, basal cell adenoma is often associated with cystic formation, and therefore, when the cystic formation can be confirmed by preoperative tests, it should be born in mind as an important approach to differential diagnosis.

Estrogen (E2; estradiol) plays a key role in the regulation of many pituitary hormones. It exerts its effects by binding to the intracellular estrogen receptor (ER), which then functions as a transcription factor. Although E2 has been shown to regulate calbindin-D(9k) (CaBP-9k) in the female reproductive system of rodents, the effects of E2 on the regulation of CaBP-9k in male rats remain to be elucidated. To investigate E2-induced regulation of the pituitary CaBP-9k gene, immature male rats were injected with E2 daily for 3 consecutive days with a dose of 40 microg/kg body weight (BW). The expression levels of CaBP-9k mRNA and protein were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively, in the absence and presence of ICI 182,780 (ICI), an E2 antagonist. In addition, the tissue localization of CaBP-9k was determined by immunohistochemistry. CaBP-9k was localized in the cytoplasm of a specific cell type (acidophils) in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland and highly expressed in the intermediate lobe. Exposure to E2 increased the number of cells that stained positive for CaBP-9k. To determine which ER subtype is involved in CaBP-9k regulation in the pituitary, the immature rats were treated with propyl pyrazole triol (PPT, an ERalpha-selective ligand) or diarylpropionitrile (DPN, an ERbeta-selective ligand) for 3 days. Pituitary CaBP-9k expression was mainly mediated by PPT in immature male rats, whereas no significant alteration of pituitary CaBP-9k gene expression was observed after DPN treatment. In addition, the estrogenicity of PPT in the induction of CaBP-9k expression was completely blocked by an estrogen antagonist, ICI, indicating that pituitary CaBP-9k expression is solely induced by ERalpha. Taken together, these results suggest that pituitary CaBP-9k is induced by E2 in male rats and its expression is predominantly regulated by ERalpha, but not ERbeta.

For the first time, morpho-functional characterisation of haemocytes from the cockle Cerastoderma glaucum was performed to identify circulating cell types and to study their involvement in immune responses. Haemocyte mean number was 5.5 (x 10(5)) cells/mL haemolymph. Two main haemocyte types were found in haemolymph: granulocytes (85%), about 10 microm in diameter and with evident cytoplasmic granules, and hyalinocytes (15%), 8 to 14 microm in diameter, with a few or no granules. Most of the cytoplasmic granules stained in vivo with Neutral Red, indicating that they were lysosomes. On the basis of haemocyte staining properties, granulocytes and hyalinocytes were further classified as basophils and acidophils. Acidophil hyalinocytes were the largest haemocyte type (about 14 microm in diameter) and had an eccentric nucleus and a large cytoplasmic vacuole. Both granulocytes and hyalinocytes (except acidophils) were able to phagocytise yeast cells, although the basal phagocytic index was very low (about 2%). It increased significantly (up to 26%) after pre-incubation of yeast in cell-free haemolymph, suggesting that haemolymph has opsonising properties. Haemocytes also produced superoxide anion. Moreover, both granulocytes and hyalinocytes (except acidophils) were positive for some important hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes. Lysozyme-like activity was recorded in both cell-free haemolymph and haemocyte lysate, although enzyme activity in cell lysate was significantly higher. Results indicate that haemocytes from C. glaucum are effective cells in immune responses.