Oestrogen and progesterone receptors in feline fibroadenomatous change: animmunohistochemical study

The distribution of oestrogen and progesterone receptors was analysed in is cases of feline fibroadenomatous change (FFAC) using commercially availabl e specific monoclonal antibodies and the Avidin-biotin peroxidase complex t echnique on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. In all cases of FFAC, progesterone receptors were detected either in epithelial cells (mostly su prabasal) or in epithelial and stromal cells. Oestrogen receptors were dete cted in approximately half of these cases, in suprabasal or luminal epithel ial cells exclusively. Myoepithelial cells lacked both oestrogen and proges terone receptors. The techniques used have identified the specific cellular distribution of steroid hormones receptors in this hormone-dependent lesio n of the feline mammary gland. The results confirm those of previous bioche mical analyses with respect to progesterone receptors and add new data conc erning the possible involvement of oestrogen receptors and stromal fibrobla sts in the hormonal control and development of the lesion. (C) 2000 Harcour t Publishers Ltd.