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Biomedical subjects

C Ezrin

Publications and source records attributed to C Ezrin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Pituitary adenomas in old age.

Pituitaries obtained at unselected autopsies of 152 men and women over 80 years of age, dying of different diseases, have been investigated histologically by using various staining procedures, including the immunoperoxidase technique. In 20 pituitaries, 22 adenomas were found providing evidence that these tumors are common in aging subjects. In 9 adenomas out of 17 cases, the immunoperoxidase technique revealed the presence of prolactin, indicating that prolactin-producing adenomas constitute the most frequently occurring pituitary tumor type in old age. The presence of growth hormone was demonstrated in one adenoma which also contained prolactin. No storage of ACTH, FSH, LH or TSH was found in the tumors. The biologic behavior of pituitary adenomas disclosed as incidental findings in old age remains to be elucidated. These neoplasms may have a slower growth rate, but more work is required to establish whether they differ from those found in younger age groups.

Adenoma↗

Thyrotroph cell adenoma of the human pituitary gland associated with primary hypothyroidism: clinical and morphological features.

The morphological features of a pituitary adenoma resected from a 39-year-old woman with hypothyroidism have been investigated. Hypothyroidism followed radioactive iodine treatment of pre-existing hyperthyroidism, presumably Graves' disease. Blood TSH was low during a euthyroid interval and was elevated above normal with the onset of hypothyroidism. The presence of a small amount of TSH was demonstrated in the tumour by radioimmunoassay. By conventional histology the tumour was a chromophobe adenoma. Some fine secretory granules stained with aldehyde thionin but were negative with PAS and contained no immunoreactive TSH. By light and electron microscopy, the tumour cells differed from thyroid deficiency cells. They were small and angular, containing numerous microtubules and small spherical secretory granules, oriented mainly along the plasma membranes. The tumour was considered to represent a thyrotroph cell adenoma, arising from protracted overstimulation secondary to chronic thyroid hormone deficiency.

Adenoma↗

The effects of estrogen on prolactin cells of the male rat pituitary. An immunocytologic and autoradiographic study.

Both immunoperoxidase staining (to identify specifically prolactin cells) and autoradiography after labelling with 3H-thylmidine (to demonstrate those cells which actively produce DNA) were performed on the same sections from normal male rat pituitaries and on those from rats treated with 17 beta-estradiol. In normal pituitaries, 3.3% of prolactin cells appeared to take up 3H-thymidine. Estrogen stimulation produced an increase in the weight of the pituitary and in the percentage of immunostained as well as of labelled prolactin cells, indicating that proliferation of prolactin cells at least in part accounted for the enlargement of the pituitary. The question, whether prolactin cell hyperplasia was due to multiplication of pre-existing, well differentiated prolactin cells or of immature prolactin cell precursors, remains to be elucidated.

Animals↗

Regression of pituitary tumors, a possible effect of bromergocryptine.

With the advent of the prolactin radioimmunoassay and more sensitive methods of roentgenologic examination, prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors are now being diagnosed with much greater frequency. Definitive treatment has been considered to involve transphenoidal hypophysectomy. The symptoms of hyperprolactinemia including amenorrhea, galactorrhea and infertility can usually be controlled without difficulty by bromergocryptine therapy, but little is known regarding continued tumor growth. Bromergocryptine and other ergot alkaloids have been shown to decrease the production of prolactin and to inhibit the rate of pituitary tumor growth in animal studies. In man, evidence for a similar effect is not as clear. The present study demonstrates tumor regression associated with bromergocryptine therapy in two patients.

Adult↗

Cushing's syndrome and autoimmunity.

Is Cushing's syndrome ever caused by adrenal stimulating autoantibodies? Specific antiadrenal antibodies were found in the serum of three of seven patients with Cushing's syndrome. The immunologic techniques that showed positive results were complement fixation, tanned RBC hemagglutination, and immunofluorescence. Lymphocytic infiltration of the adrenal was present in two cases, in one of which nodular hyperplasia seemed to be of primary adrenal origin with autoimmunity as a possible cause. However, in cases with clear-cut pituitary origin, the lymphocytic adrenalitis and circulating adrenal antibodies are likely secondary to antigen leaking from damaged tissue.

Adrenal Glands↗

Thyrotrophs in old age. An immunocytologic study of human pituitary glands.

In order to reveal whether thyrotroph cells of the human pituitary are affected by aging, a histologic and immunocytologic study was undertaken on the pituitaries of patients over 80 years of age (10 men, 10 women), dying of various acute illnesses and the findings compared with those of a younger age group (10 men, 10 women), dying of various acute illnesses between the age of 20-56 years. The incidence, distribution, granulation, cytoplasmic vacuolization, as well as immunoreactivity of TSH cells, showed no major differences related to age and sex. Lack of involution of thyrotroph cells in old subjects indicates that the pituitary is capable of producing TSH with advancing age.

Adult↗

Hypothalamic hypopituitarism presenting as galactorrhea-amenorrhea.

A young woman with secondary amenorrhea was also found to have a deficiency of growth hormone. Functional deficiency of adrenocorticotropic and thyroid stimulating hormones, and probably prolactin-inhibiting hormone, developed subsequently. No evidence of a mass lesion in the hypothalamic pituitary axis was found. She failed to respond to any pharmacologic agent believed to act functionally at a suprapituitary level, but responded to all stimuli believed to act directly on the pituitary. This progressive failure of the endocrine hypothalamus may be an extension of the idiopathic hypopituitarism syndrome found in children.

Adult↗

Isochromosome for the long arm of the Y in an infertile male.

A 37-year-old man investigated for infertility had bilateral atrophic testes. Cytogenetic investigations revealed a chromosome complement of 45,XO/46,Xi(Yq)/46,XY. Mechanisms for the origin of the i(Yq) are considered, and the relation of his chromosome constitution to his infertility and hypogonadism are discussed.

Adult↗

Pituitary hyperthyroidism. Case report and review of the literature.

A 58 year old woman with an enlarged sella turcica was found to have hyperthyroidism with a supranormal concentration of serum thyrotropin. Transsphenoidal microsurgery resulted in the removal of a chromophobe adenoma comprised mainly of thyrotropes. Postoperatively, serum thyrotropin, thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels fell within normal limits, and the patient maintained normal thyroid and pituitary function.

Adenoma, Chromophobe↗

Pituitary adenomas associated with elevated blood follicle-stimulating hormone levels: a histologic, immunocytologic, and electron microscopic study of two cases.

The histologic, immunocytologic, and electron microscopic features of pituitary adenomas surgically removed from two men with elevated levels of blood follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are described. In both cases, the high blood FSH levels were reduced after surgery. By light microscopy, the tumors corresponded to chromophobic adenomas, and the immunoperoxidase technique revealed the presence of immunoreactive FSH (beta-subunit) in the cytoplasm of the adenoma cells. By electron microscopy, the adenoma cells differed considerably from nontumorous FSH cells. They were smaller and angular and contained numerous microtubules as well as spherical secretory granules measuring 100 to 250 nm in diameter and often lining up along the cell membranes. The present findings are consistent with the view that FSH-producing adenomas may originate in the human pituitary.

Adenoma↗

Prolactin cell adenomas of the human pituitary. Morphologic features of prolactin cells in the nontumorous portions of the anterior lobe.

Twenty pituitary glands, harbouring prolactin cell adenomas, obtained from autopsy of male and female patients of various ages and dying of different diseases have been investigated by the immunoperoxidase technique in order to reveal the morphologic changes of prolactin cells in the nontumorous protions of the anterior lobes. For comparison, 40 nontumorous pituitary glands and 20 pituitaries lodging adenomas not consisting of prolactin cells have also been studied. In all four prolactin cell adenoma cases, the anterior lobes contained numberous prolactin cells outside the tumors, indicating a lack of involution of prolactin cells in the nontumorous portions of the pituitary glands.

Adenoma↗

Spontaneous pituitary adenomas in aging rats. A light microscopic, immunocytological and fine structural study.

The structural features of 26 spontaneous pituitary tumors in aging female Long-Evans rats have been investigated by different morphologic techniques including immunoperoxidase staining and electron microscopy. By light microscopy, the tumors corresponded to chromophobic-sparsely granulated acidophilic adenomas, containing numerous pigment granules and showing congestion as well as focal hemorrhages. Positive cytoplasmic staining was obtained with Herlant's erythrosin as well as with Brookes' carmoisine methods, used to detect secretory granules of prolactin cells. Immunoperoxidase technique revealed the presence of immunoreactive prolactin in the cytoplasm of many adenoma cells. Growth hormone and TSH immuno-stainings were negative. By electron microscopy, the tumors were found to consist of prolactin cells exhibiting marked variability in subcellular morphology and differing considerably from non-tumorous resting prolactin cells. A decrease in size and number of secretory granules, proliferation of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, formation of "Nebenkerne", accumulation of free ribosomes, prominence of Golgi complex and the presence of misplaced exocytosis were characteristic features of the adenoma cells and were interpreted as indicating enhanced secretory activity. Crinophagy and transformation of secretory granules into pigment deposits were striking findings in many adenomas. Since all the adenomas seemed to derive from prolactin cells and belong to the same tumor class, it is assumed that prolactin cells in female Long-Evans rats are more susceptible to oncogenic stimuli than other hypophysial cell types.

Adenoma↗

Staining of human pituitary glands with lead hematoxylin in comparison with other histochemical procedures, including the immunoenzyme technique.

Human pituitary glands and pituitary adenomas, obtained by surgery or at autopsy, have been stained with lead hematoxylin and the results were compared with those of other histochemical procedures, including the immunoperoxidase technique. Lead hematoxylin positivity was found in the cytoplasm of melanocorticotroph, thyrotroph as well as gonadotroph cells, indicating that lead hematoxylin has no selective affinity for melanocorticotroph cells. Lead hematoxylin positive cells also stained with the PAS technique. Lead hematoxylin positivity was not revealed in growth hormone cells or in prolactin cells. Basophilic adenomas, composed of melanocorticotroph cells and associated with Cushing's disease or with Nelson's syndrome or unaccompanied by hormonal hypersecretion, showed intense lead hematoxylin positivity. Thus, no correlation was evident between lead hematoxylin positivity and secretory activity. Acidophilic or chromophobic adenomas consisting of growth hormone cells, prolactin cells, stem cells, undifferentiated cells or oncocytes, however, were negative. It can be concluded that the lead hematoxylin staining techniques a reliable, easy and reproducible histochemical method, and its use can be recommended in studies related to adenohypophysial cytology.

Adenoma↗