Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in normal pituitary cellsand pituitary adenomas producing adrenocorticotropic hormone

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces endothelial cell prolifer ation and an increase in capillary permeability. Because the anterior pitui tary gland and pituitary adenomas are highly vascular, expression of VEGF w as examined immunohistochemically. Some normal pituitary cells stained posi tively for VEGF, and restaining for ACTH, prolactin, TSH, LH, FSH, and S-10 0 protein after VEGF staining revealed that almost all cells staining posit ively for ACTH also stained for VEGF. Only adenomas staining positively for ACTH stained for VEGF. These results suggest that VEGF is produced by norm al pituitary cells and adenomas producing ACTH.