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Biomedical subjects

R Buffa

Publications and source records attributed to R Buffa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Argyrophil pituitary tumors showing TSH cells or small granule cells.

Among 74 histochemically and ultrastructurally studied pituitary adenomas, 12 apparently chromophobe tumors were characterized by the presence of numerous argyrophil cells. All these argyrophil adenomas failed to reveal presence of GH, prolactin or ACTH cells. Two tumors were found to consist of well granulated cells reacting intensely with anti-TSH antibodies and resembling TSH cells of the normal pituitary. The remaining argyrophil adenomas did not show TSH immunostaining and, with one exception, failed to react with an anti-HCG serum staining gonadotroph cells of human pituitary. They were composed of small, closely apposed cells with small compact or vesicular granules. These tumor cells seem to correspond to some small argyrophil cells found in non-neoplastic pituitary, which differ from TSH cells and from all other types of functionally identified adenohypophyseal cells.

Adenoma, Chromophobe

Ultrastructural and histological study of 11 bronchial carcinoids. Evidence for different types.

Seven of eleven bronchial carcinoids investigated showed cells with small granules resembling P cells which have already been described in human fetal and adult lung; two of these P cell tumours showed distinctive paraganglioid features. One tumour showed peculiar ultrastructural findings resembling closely those previously reported by Black (1969) in a so called "pulmonary oncocytoma". Three remaining cases showed large secretory granules resembling those of type 3 cells already described by Hage (1973b) in bronchial carcinoids; one of these tumours produced large amounts of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT). It is concluded that, on cytological grounds, at least two types of tumours can be distinguished among bronchial carcinoids, i.e. P cell and type 3 cell tumours. Moreover, two varieties of P cell carcinoids have been recognized, showing either the less frequent and more distinctive paraganglioid structure or the more common trabecular structure.

Adult

Complement-mediated unspecific binding of immunoglobulins to some endocrine cells.

Unspecific binding of immunoglobulins to gastrin G cells, glucagon A cells and somatostatin D cells of the gastric mucosa or pancreas, as well as to the calcitonin-somatostatin cells of rabbit thyroid has been found to occur through a non antigen-antibody mechanism mediated at least in part by the C1q fraction of complement. The phenomenon represents a major drawback in hormone immunohistochemistry, which can be prevented by incubating the specific anti-hormone sera with anti-C1q antibodies or with complement-fixing immunocomplexes.

Animals

Parafollicular cells of rabbit thryoid store both calcitonin and somatostatin and resemble gut D cells ultrastructurally.

Both calcitonin and somatostatin have been detected immunohistochemically in rabbit parafollicular cells; only calcitonin has been found in the same cells of the dog, guinea-pig and man. Large amounts of a peptide radioimmunochemically identical with synthetic somatostatin have been detected in extracts of rabbit thyroid. The ultrastructural and staining features of rabbit parafollicular cells differ from those of parafollicular cells in other species, while resembling in part those of somatostatin D cells scattered in the rabbit stomach.

Animals

On the immunocytochemical localization of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide.

The distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactive nerves and endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas of a number of mammalian and submammalian species has been examined in order to throw light on the exact localization of this peptide. Seven out of 8 VIP antisera demonstrated numerous nerve fibers in the gut, whereas one antiserum (TR2) revealed only scattered, few nerve fibers. The distribution of endocrine cells demonstrated by the different VIP antisera varied considerably. Thus, some antisera demonstrated only endocrine cells in the feline antrum, others only colonic endocrine cells and still others only endocrine cells of the upper gut and pancreas. The variability in staining pattern of endocrine cells as well as recent radioimmunological data makes it opportune to suggest that true VIP is a neuronal peptide and that endocrine cells store peptides resembling, but not being identical with, VIP (VIPoids).

Animals

Complement-mediated binding of immunoglobulins to some endocrine cells of the pancreas and gut.

Unspecific binding of immunoglobulins to gastrin, somatostain and glucagon cells of the gastrointestinal mucosa or pancreas has been found to occur through a nonantigen-antibody mechanism mediated by the C14 fraction of complement. The phenomenon represents an important drawback in hormone immunohistochemistry, which can be overcome by using complement deprived, highly dilute anti-hormone sera.

Animals

Types of endocrine cells in the human colon and rectum.

At least four types of endocrine-like cells have been detected histochemically in the mucosa of the human colon and rectum, i.e. argentaffin cells storing 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and non-argentaffin cells reacting with glucagon, somatostatin and bovine pancreatic peptide (BPP) antibodies. Ultrastructurally, four main types and three rare types of endocrine-like cells have been identified. Among the former cells were: (1) argentaffin EC1 cells, known to store 5HT and substance P, (2) poorly argyrophil L cells, corresponding to the glucagon-immunoreactive cells storing enteroglucagon or glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLl), (3) inconstantly argyrophil F-like cells, possibly corresponding to BPP-immunoreactive cells, and (4) fairly argyrophil H cells of unknown function. Rare D cells, corresponding to somatostatin cells, N cells, corresponding to neurotensin cells, and P cells, of unknown function, have been also found.

Chromaffin System

Multiple endocrine cell types in thyroid medullary carcinoma. Evidence for calcitonin, somatostatin, ACTH, 5HT and small granule cells.

10 cases of thyroid medullary carcinoma (TMC) have been studied ultrastructurally and histochemically. Well differentiated calcitonin-producing C cells were present in all tumours, being prevalent in 9 cases. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5HT) storing cells were found in two cases, somatostatin immunoreactive cells in at least 5 cases and ACTH-immunoreactive cells in 4 cases. Ultrastructurally, at least 3 types of apparently non-C cells were observed. Type 1 cells with large, poorly osmiophilic granules resembling those of gastroenteropancreatic D cells, were present in 6 cases; they appeared to correlate well with somatostatin immunoreactive cells. Type 2 cells with large osmiophilic granules were found in 5 cases; they resembled ACTH-MSH cells of the human pituitary and may correspond to the ACTH-immunoreactive cells of light microscopy. Type 3 cells with small granules and an unknown function were found in 6 cases, always in scarce number. It is concluded that TMC, although mainly made up of C cells, usually contains large proportions of other endocrine cell types.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Histochemical and ultrastructural identification of neurotensin cells in the dog ileum.

In the dog ileum, neurotensin cells stained with immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase proved distinct from argentaffin (EC) cells, glucagon immunoreactive (GLI) cells and pancreatic peptide immunoreactive (PP) cells. Neurotensin cells showed various degrees of reactivity with Grimelius' silver. With electron microscopy, besides EC cells, large granule cells with a thin peripheral rim of Grimelius-reactivity (L cells) and large granule cells with variable Grimelius-reactivity of the core (N cells) were found. On distributive grounds, L cells were identified with GLI cells and N cells were interpreted as neurotensin cells.

Animals

The endocrine cells of the pancreas and related tumours. Ultrastructural study and classification.

Up to seven endocrine cell types have been identified ultrastructurally in the pancreas, including glucagon A cells, insulin B cells, somatostatin D cells, pancreatic peptide F cells and 5-hydroxytryptamine EC cells. In addition, D1 cells, which have been proposed as the cell type producing VIP and possible P cells of unknown function are seen. Various patterns of endocrine cell differentiation have been found in 20 endocrine pancreatic tumours. Well and poorly differentiated B cells have been identified in 6 insulinomas, diagnostic G cells in 3 out of 7 gastrinomas, D1 and/or F cells in 7 diarrheogenic tumours. Moreover, cells apparently unrelated to the prevalent clinical syndrome have been noted in 8 of the 20 tumours. Granular non diagnostic cells (poorly diagnostic gastrin cells? D1 cells?) were particularly frequent in gastrinomas; agranular or poorly granular cells, either by "active" or "Stem cell" type, were present in nearly all tumours, particularly in diarrheogenic tumours, gastrinomas and malignant insulinomas. A cytological classification of pancreatic endocrine tumours is proposed.

Adenoma, Islet Cell

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) cells in the pancrease and gastro-intestinal mucosa. An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

Using antibodies against pure porcine VIP in immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence tests, VIP-immunoreactive cells have been detected in the pancreas-especially in the islets-and gastrointestinal mucosa of the dog, guinea-pig and man. VIP immunoreactive cells were widely distributed in these tissues, never being numerous at any site. Some parallelism has been noted between such cells and ultrastructurally identified D1 cells fo the pancreas and gastrointestinal mucosa. The presence of VIP cells in normal pancreas may help explain the occurrence of pancreatic endocrine tumors producing VIP.

Animals

Cytochemical and ultrastructural differentiation of enteroglucagon and pancreatic-type glucagon cells of the gastrointestinal tract.

Coordinated studies have been carried out on the glucagon immunoreactive cells of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract (man, dog, rat), using electron microscopy, silver staining and immunocytochemistry. Parallel ultrastructural and immunocytochemical studies have been made with the semithin-thin serial section technique. The results indicate that while the glucagon cells of the oxyntic portion of the stomach are virtually indistinguishable from those of the pancreatic islets (A cells) those of the intestine (EG cells) are completely different. Proper identification of glucagon immunoreactive cells requires the application of morphological and silver staining techniques, at the ultrastructural level.

Animals

Immunohistochemical identification of the cholecystokinin cell in the intestinal mucosa.

In indirect immunofluorescence tests, antibodies against pure porcine cholecystokinin (CCK) have detected specific CCK cells in the duodenal and jejunal mucosa of the dog and man. The CCK cells were scattered in the epithelium of the crypts, although some were in the villi. No CCK cells were found in the stomach, pancreas, terminal ileum, or colon. Some pyloric G cells also showed some reactivity with CCK antiserum, but absorption of CCK antiserum with gastrin C terminal pentapeptide prevented the staining of pyloric cells and provided specific staining of intestinal CCK cells. Anti-human gastrin I serum stained some intestinal cells too. Most of such cells did not react when gastrin antiserum was absorbed with pure CCK (a treatment that did not prevent the staining of pyloric gastrin cells); they were interpreted as cross-reacting CCK cells rather than as intestinal gastrin cells.

Animals

Identification of the intestinal cell storing gastric inhibitory peptide.

Small intestinal mucosal samples from man, pig and dog, were subjected to sequential or correlative silver impregnation techniques, applied to immunocytochemical preparations and at the ultrastructural level. The cell reacting with anti-GIP sera was identified as the ultrastructurally classified K cell and we propose that the term GIP cell be used in place of the latter. This cell can thus be recognized by its strong reactivity with the Sevier-Munger staining procedure, provided that the equally strongly reacting EC cell is excluded by virtue of its argentaffinity with the Masson technique.

Animals

Formaldehyde-ozone-induced fluorescence in gastrin-producing tumours.

Material from eight peptide hormone-secreting tumours, extirpated from the pancreas or from the antrum-duodenum region, was examined. Four of the patients had the clinical manifestations of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, two showed the features of an insulin-secreting tumour and one had a glucagonoma. Gastrin-producing cells, identified by immunohistochemistry, were found in five of the tumours. These cells displayed a varying degree of formaldehyde-ozone-induced fluorescence. This agrees with previous observations on the gastrin cell of human antral and duodenal mucosa. From model experiments, formaldehyde-ozone-induced fluorescence is thought to reflect the presence of peptides having tryptophan in the NH2-terminal position. The nature of this peptide in gastrin-producing cells is unknown.

Adult