Open AccessAMORPHOUS AND STELLATE AMYLOID IN FUNCTIONING HUMAN PITUITARY ADENOMAS
Author(s) -
Osamura R. Yoshiyuki,
Watanabe Keiichi,
Komatsu Noriyuki,
Ohya Masaki,
Kageyama Naoki
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
acta patholigica japonica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 0001-6632
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1982.tb02061.x
Subject(s) - immunostaining , pathology , immunohistochemistry , hepatic stellate cell , prolactin , amyloid (mycology) , pituitary adenoma , electron microscope , ultrastructure , immunogold labelling , chemistry , biology , endocrinology , adenoma , hormone , medicine , physics , optics
Two types of amyloid, amorphous and stellate, were studied in 3 functioning human pituitary adenomas (2 prolactin‐secreting and one growth hormone (GH) secreting) by histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques and by electron microscopy. The amorphous amyloid was found in all 3 adenomas, but the stellate type was observed only in the GH‐secreting tumor. Both types of deposits satisfied the staining characteristics of amyloid and were composed of aggregated filaments, 30–300 Å in diameter by electron microscopy. The stellate type was strongly positive for GH by immunohistochemistry and showed ultrastructural transition to surrounding tumor cells, findings strongly suggestive of a hormonal origin. The presence of scattered secretory granules in the amorphous type was correlated with weak immunostaining for prolactin in the amyloid.