The localization of inhibin/activin (I/A) subunits was investigated in human normal adenohypophysial cells and in 87 pituitary adenomas of different types, using immunohistochemistry. Monoclonal antibodies directed against alpha, beta A and beta B subunits of I/A were employed. In normal pituitary, alpha subunit of inhibin was detected only in FSH-positive gonadotrophs, while beta A subunit of I/A was expressed in FSH-positive gonadotrophs, GH-cells and in a few PRL-cells. beta B subunit was found in FSH-positive gonadotrophs, TSH-cells and a few LH-positive gonadotrophs. The three subunits of I/A were detected in the majority of nonfunctioning tumors, while functioning adenomas showed a significantly lower expression. This study shows that alpha, beta A and beta B subunits of I/A are expressed by specific adenohypophysial cell types and that they are characteristically present in nonfunctioning adenomas. These results suggest that inhibins and activins may play a role in the local regulation of pituitary hormonal secretion both in normal adenohypophysial cells and in pituitary adenomas

Localization of inhibin-activin subunits in normal pituitary and pituitary adenomas

Uccella S;
2000-01-01

Abstract

The localization of inhibin/activin (I/A) subunits was investigated in human normal adenohypophysial cells and in 87 pituitary adenomas of different types, using immunohistochemistry. Monoclonal antibodies directed against alpha, beta A and beta B subunits of I/A were employed. In normal pituitary, alpha subunit of inhibin was detected only in FSH-positive gonadotrophs, while beta A subunit of I/A was expressed in FSH-positive gonadotrophs, GH-cells and in a few PRL-cells. beta B subunit was found in FSH-positive gonadotrophs, TSH-cells and a few LH-positive gonadotrophs. The three subunits of I/A were detected in the majority of nonfunctioning tumors, while functioning adenomas showed a significantly lower expression. This study shows that alpha, beta A and beta B subunits of I/A are expressed by specific adenohypophysial cell types and that they are characteristically present in nonfunctioning adenomas. These results suggest that inhibins and activins may play a role in the local regulation of pituitary hormonal secretion both in normal adenohypophysial cells and in pituitary adenomas
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11699/69308
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