Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT 4) is highly expressed in mitochondria-rich oxyphil cells

Immunohistochemical detection of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT 4) has been pe rformed in oncocytic tumors, in tissues with reactive oncocytic/oxyphil met aplasia, as well as in specimens from the gastric mucosa and from external eye muscles. It was found that, irrespective of origin, differentiation, an d function, mitochondria-rich cells show a high expression of GLUT 4. Besid es a high content of mitochondria, a high consumption of glucose therefore is another characteristic feature of oxyphil (oncocytic) cells. From a diag nostic point of view, it should be noted that GLUT 4 immunostaining is well suited for the visualization of mitochondria-rich cells in paraffin-embedd ed tissue and thereby allows the further analysis of archival material.