L. Stefaneanu et al., IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION STUDY OF ESTROGEN-RECEPTOR MESSENGER-RIBONUCLEIC-ACID IN HUMAN ADENOHYPOPHYSEAL CELLS AND PITUITARY-ADENOMAS, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 78(1), 1994, pp. 83-88
Estrogen receptor (ER) was demonstrated in nontumorous and adenomatous
human pituitaries by autoradiography and biochemical assays. In the p
resent study, we investigated ER mRNA by in situ hybridization applied
on paraffin section of 9 nontumorous pituitaries obtained at surgery
or autopsy and 109 surgically removed adenomas. In nontumorous pituita
ries, in situ hybridization combined with immunocytochemistry revealed
hybridization signal in GH-, PRL-, ACTH-, TSH-, and LH/FSH-immunoreac
tive cells, with the highest intensity in PRL-immunoreactive cells. ER
mRNA was also localized in Crooke's cells, corticotrophs extending to
posterior lobe, cells lining the pars intermedia cavities, and squamo
us nests of pars tuberalis. The neurohypophysis, endothelium, and conn
ective tissue expressed no ER gene. ER mRNA was present in all adenoma
types, including somatotroph, lactotroph, mixed somatotroph-lactotrop
h, mammosomatotroph, acidophil stem cell, functioning and silent corti
cotroph, thyrotroph, gonadotroph, null cell adenomas, and oncocytomas.
The strongest signal was seen in some lactotroph and mammosomatotroph
adenomas. In 9 lactotroph adenomas exposed to bromocriptine (long-act
ing repeatable injectable form), the hybridization signal was weak or
absent, suggesting that suppression of ER gene plays a role in the inh
ibition of PRL synthesis and tumor growth.