Biomedical subjects

R V Lloyd

Publications and source records attributed to R V Lloyd.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Localization of leptin receptor in the human brain.

Leptin (OB protein), the product of the adipose-specific ob gene, exerts important effects in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. Based upon results from animal studies, several groups have suggested that this action may be exerted in the brain, specifically in the hypothalamic region. However, to date, the localization of the OB-R in the human brain has not been described. One aim of this study was to contribute to a better understanding of the role that the central nervous system plays in the pathogenesis of obesity in humans. A first stage was to determine the OB-R expression in the human brain by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Several brain regions from 17 lean, 14 obese, and 4 diabetic (NIDDM) subjects, obtained from archival autopsy material, were sampled. Brain samples from neocortex, hypothalamus, medualla, limbic system, pineal and cerebellum were routinely processed in paraffin and analyzed with the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase and diaminobenzidine detection method. Western blotting (WB) analysis was done on fresh brain tissue from an obese patient. Specific OB-R immunoreactivity was localized in the choroid plexus epithelium, ependymal lining, and neurons of the hypothalamic nuclei (arcuate, suprachiasmatic, mamillary, paraventricular, dorsomedial, supraoptic and posterior), nucleus basalis of Meynert, inferior olivary nuclei and cerebellar Purkinje cells. No differences in OB-R immunoreactivity were found among the three groups examined. WB analysis yielded 97- and 125-kD bands in the hypothalamus and cerebellum. In summary, this paper presents the first evidence to indicate the specific localization of the OB-R in the brain of lean, obese and NIDDM subjects.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMed1997

Prolactin receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in normal and neoplastic human pituitary tissues.

We examined the specific cell types in normal human pituitaries that expressed PRL receptor (PRL-R) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) by combined in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The distribution of PRL-R mRNA in 28 pituitary adenomas was examined by in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-PCR in 12 cases of adenomas. In another set of experiments, 34 PRL adenomas from men, women, and bromocriptine-treated patients were analyzed for PRL-R by in situ hybridization. In the normal pituitary, PRL- and LH-producing cells had significantly more mean grain counts per cell and higher percentages of cells positive for PRL-R than GH and TSH cells. PRL-R mRNA was present in all groups of adenomas by in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-PCR. PRL adenomas had a significantly higher density of labeling compared to other adenoma types. Although there was no difference in the levels of PRL-R mRNA in PRL adenomas from men and premenopausal and postmenopausal women, patients treated with bromocriptine before pituitary surgery had significantly lower levels of PRL-R compared to all other groups. These results indicate that in the normal pituitary, PRL and LH cells have the highest level of PRL-R mRNA, whereas PRL adenomas have significantly higher levels of PRL-R mRNA than other types of adenomas, and bromocriptine treatment decreases the levels of PRL-R mRNA in PRL adenomas.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1997

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor messenger ribonucleic acids expression in nontumorous and neoplastic pituitaries.

In the nontumorous pituitary, GnRH stimulates the release and synthesis of LH and FSH by gonadotroph cells via the GnRH receptor (GnRH-R). Little is known, however, about expression of GnRH and GnRH-R messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in nontumorous pituitary tissue and in adenomas. To learn more about the distribution and regulatory roles of GnRH and its receptor, we investigated the expression of both GnRH and GnRH-R mRNAs in nontumorous human pituitary and in various types of pituitary adenomas using the RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, and in situ hybridization in combination with RT-PCR (in situ RT-PCR). Using RT-PCR, GnRH mRNA was found to be expressed in normal human pituitaries and in all types of adenomas. Similarly, GnRH-R mRNA was expressed in nontumorous human pituitaries and in most, but not all, adenomas. These included 5 gonadotroph adenomas, 6 null cell adenomas, 1 of 2 GH-producing tumors, and 1 of 2 ACTH-producing adenomas, but not in the 2 PRL-producing adenomas examined. In situ hybridization studies showed GnRH and GnRH-R mRNAs in all 3 nontumorous pituitaries and in 12 of 33 (36.4%) and 10 of 33 adenomas (30.3%), respectively. Using an indirect in situ RT-PCR technique to increase the sensitivity of the in situ localization, GnRH and GnRH-R mRNAs were detected in 29 (87.9%) and 25 (75.8%) of 33 adenomas, respectively. This is the first report of the localization of GnRH and GnRH-R mRNAs in individual pituitary adenoma cells using in situ RT-PCR. The frequent expression of GnRH and GnRH-R mRNAs in pituitary cells suggests that GnRH has autocrine/paracrine functions in nontumorous and neoplastic pituitary tissues.

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone↗

PubMed1997

A growth hormone-releasing hormone-producing pancreatic islet cell tumor metastasized to the pituitary is associated with pituitary somatotroph hyperplasia and acromegaly.

The functional and morphological changes in the pituitary gland caused by a GHRH-producing pancreatic islet cell tumor that metastasized to the pituitary and caused somatotroph hyperplasia are described. A 52-yr-old woman presented with loss of visual acuity, diabetes insipidus, and acromegaly caused by a GHRH-producing endocrine carcinoma metastasized to the pituitary. The serum GHRH, GH, and insulin-like growth factor I levels of the patient were elevated. Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization study revealed GHRH immunoreactivity and GHRH messenger RNA (mRNA) in the metastatic tumor cells. The anterior pituitary showed hyperplasia of somatotroph cells with intact acinar structure that did not contain an adenoma, determined by light microscopy using silver impregnation. Electron microscopy revealed hyperplastic characteristics of densely granulated somatotrophs. In situ hybridization documented strong signals for GH mRNA and pituitary-specific transcriptional factor Pit-1 mRNA in the hyperplastic somatotrophs. A weak signal for GHRH receptor mRNA was detected in these somatotrophs. However, using in situ RT-PCR, GHRH receptor mRNA was more conclusively observed in most of the somatotrophs. The excessive production of GHRH by metastatic tumor may have resulted in somatotroph hyperplasia by the synergistic effects of Pit-1 and GHRH receptor. It can be concluded that the pathogenesis of pituitary adenoma formation is primarily mediated by other factors than hypothalamic hormone.

Acromegaly↗

PubMed1997

In situ hybridization: methods and applications.

In situ hybridization (ISH) combines molecular biological techniques with histological and cytological analysis of gene expression. RNA and DNA can be readily localized in specific cells with this method. ISH has been useful as a research tool, and recent studies have used this technique in the diagnostic pathology laboratory and in microbiology for the tissue localization in infectious agents. Other recent developments in the applications of ISH involve in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, which can be used to detect very low levels of nucleic acids in tissues by taking advantage of the powerful amplification capacity of PCR. In situ PCR will contribute significantly to progress in this field because of the marked increase in the sensitivity of this method.

Cytogenetics↗

PubMed1997

Aberrant p27kip1 expression in endocrine and other tumors.

The p27kip1 (p27) gene encodes an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase activity. The expression of p27 protein in normal and neoplastic tissues was investigated by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Immunoblotting studies detected a 27-kd protein band that was decreased in neoplastic pituitary tissues compared with normal pituitary. Immunostaining of 177 tissues showed abundant expression of p27 protein in normal tissues with decreased numbers of immunoreactive cells in adenomas and carcinomas in both endocrine and nonendocrine tissues. p27 expression was inversely related to the proliferation marker Ki-67 antigen detected with monoclonal antibody MIB-1. Parathyroid adenomas and hyperplasias had similar Ki-67 labeling indices; however, hyperplasias had threefold more p27-positive cells than parathyroid adenomas, suggesting that p27 immunostaining may be useful in distinguishing between these two conditions. These results indicate that there is widespread aberrant p27 expression in hyperplastic tissues and in benign and malignant neoplasms compared with normal tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis of p27 along with Ki-67 may be used to assess the biological behavior of various neoplasms, to classify hyperplastic and neoplastic tissues, and to study cell cycle regulation during tumor progression.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

PubMed1997

Transforming growth factor-beta, transforming growth factor-beta receptor II, and p27Kip1 expression in nontumorous and neoplastic human pituitaries.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta has been implicated in the regulation of normal and neoplastic anterior pituitary cell function. TGF-beta regulates the expression of various proteins, including p27Kip1 (p27), a cell cycle inhibitory protein. We examined TGF-beta, TGF-beta type II receptor (TGF-beta-RII), and p27 expression in normal pituitaries, pituitary adenomas, and carcinomas to analyze the possible roles of these proteins in pituitary tumorigenesis. Normal pituitary, pituitary adenomas, and pituitary carcinomas all expressed TGF-beta and TGF-beta-RII immunoreactivity. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis showed TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3 isoforms and TGF-beta-RII in normal pituitaries and pituitary adenomas. Pituitary adenomas cells cultured for 7 days in defined media showed a biphasic response to TGF-beta with significant inhibition of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion at higher concentrations (10(-9) mol/L) and stimulation of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion at lower concentrations (10(-13) mol/L) of TGF-beta 1 in gonadotroph adenomas. Immunohistochemical analysis for p27 protein expression showed the highest levels in nontumorous pituitaries with decreased immunoreactivity in adenomas and carcinomas. When nontumorous pituitaries and various adenomas were analyzed for p27 and specific hormone production, growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, and thyroid-stimulating hormone cells and tumors had the highest percentages of cells expressing p27, whereas adrenocorticotrophic hormone cells and tumors had the lowest percentages. Immunoblotting analysis showed that adrenocorticotrophic hormone adenomas also had the lowest levels of p27 protein. Semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Northern hybridization analysis did not show significant differences in p27 mRNA expression in the various types of adenomas or in nontumorous pituitaries. In situ hybridization for p27 mRNA showed similar distributions of the gene product in nontumorous pituitaries, pituitary adenomas, and carcinomas. These results indicate that TGF-beta and TGF-beta-RII are widely expressed in nontumorous pituitaries and in pituitary neoplasms and that TGF-beta 1 regulates pituitary hormone secretion. The levels of the TGF-beta-regulated protein p27 decreases in the progression of normal to neoplastic pituitaries. In contrast, the mRNA levels of p27 remained relatively constant in nontumorous pituitaries, pituitary adenomas, and carcinomas, indicating that p27 protein levels in adenomas and carcinomas are regulated by translational and post-translational mechanisms.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1996

The World Health Organization classification of adenohypophysial neoplasms. A proposed five-tier scheme.

BACKGROUND: Although numerous attempts have been made, the classification of pituitary neoplasms remains controversial. METHODS: The present proposal is based on correlative clinical and pathologic (histologic, immunocytochemical, and electron microscopic) studies of more than 8000 surgically removed human pituitary tumors. RESULTS: Anterior pituitary tumors have been variously classified on the basis of their clinical presentation, biochemical findings, histology (growth pattern, tinctorial characteristics), proliferation indices, immunocytochemical profile, and ultrastructural features. Herein we propose a five-tier classification, clinicopathologic in nature, which focuses on endocrine activity, imaging, operative findings, histology, immunocytochemistry, and ultrastructure. The integration of these five complementary approaches into what is fundamentally a pathologic classification is as practical as it is novel. Its importance lies in the fact that the collected data provide valuable information to the clinical endocrinologist, neurosurgeon, and oncologist involved in the assessment of a tumor's biologic behavior, growth potential, therapeutic responsiveness, and prognosis. Due to financial restraints, lack of facilities, and unavailability of well trained personnel, we realize that at present the five approaches cannot be fully implemented in all institutions. Nonetheless, clinical and biochemical data, imaging, and operative findings, as well as basic histologic parameters are generally readily available. Collectively they are indispensable in establishing the correct diagnosis and in directing patient management. Conversely, the cost-effectiveness of immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy is debatable in that their performance and interpretation requires time, financial resources, and expertise. Nonetheless, it should be clear that any correlation between endocrine activity, growth potential, morphologic features, immunocytochemical profile, and ultrastructural features provides greater insight into the pathobiology of adenohypophysial tumors than is gained by routine histology alone. Thus we feel justified in including immunocytochemical and ultrastructural investigation of pituitary tumors in a modern classification. At present, more sophisticated molecular biologic methods represent investigative tools that play no significant role in the classification. CONCLUSIONS: A five-tier classification of adenohypophysial neoplasms based on clinical and biochemical results, imaging, operative findings, histology, immunocytochemistry, and electron microscopy is proposed. It is recommended to the World Health Organization for acceptance.

Humans↗

PubMed1996

Nonenzymatic reduction of tetrachloro-1, 4-benzoquinone by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in an aqueous system.

NADPH was shown to reduce tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (TCBQ) to tetrachloro-1,4-benzene diol which was identified on the basis of cochromatography with synthetic standard in a reverse phase HPLC system, electronic absorption spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. Conversely, NADPH was shown to undergo TCBQ-dependent oxidation as evidenced by uv spectroscopic analysis. ESR spectroscopy demonstrated that NADPH-dependent reduction of TCBQ proceeds through the intermediacy of a semiquinone radical intermediate. In addition, molecular mechanics and molecular orbital calculations were carried out on TCBQ to obtain partial atomic charges and the results suggest that the first electron transfer from the reduced nicotinamide moiety to TCBQ occurs at a carbonyl carbon. Kinetic analysis indicated that the rate of NADPH oxidation is first order with respect to [TCBQ], second order with respect to [NADPH], and an Arrhenius plot yielded an activation energy of 26 kJ x mol (-1) for the rate limiting step. Mechanisms are proposed which are consistent with these results.

Chloranil↗

PubMed1996

Adrenalectomy for metastatic disease to the adrenal glands.

A policy of supportive treatment is frequently adopted for patients with metastatic disease to the adrenal glands. This study reports an experience with adrenalectomy for adrenal metastasis. Between 1983 and 1993, adrenalectomy was performed in 52 patients for metastasis to the adrenal glands. Survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log rank test. Primary tumour sites included kidney (n = 15), lung (n = 11), colon (n = 7), unknown (n = 5), stomach (n = 3), melanoma (n = 3) and other (n = 8). Adenocarcinoma (69 per cent) was the most common histological cell type. Thirty-two patients were asymptomatic on initial evaluation. Symptomatic adrenal pain relief was achieved in 11 of 13 patients. Overall survival rates were 73 per cent at 1 year and 40 per cent at 2 years. Patients with potentially curative resection had better survival than those who had a palliative procedure. Patients with adrenal metastases due to adenocarcinoma had improved survival compared with that in those with other histological cell types. Although long-term survival is generally poor, highly selected patients with adrenal metastasis (symptomatic disease or adenocarcinoma) may benefit from surgical resection.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

PubMed1996

Lymphoma in soft tissue: a clinicopathologic study of 19 cases.

The authors retrospectively reviewed 19 patients who presented with lymphoma as soft tissue masses, without evidence of lymph node or skin involvement. Sites of involvement included lower extremity (seven), upper extremity (six), chest wall (three), gluteal region (two), and frontal subgaleal region (one). Histological and immunophenotypic studies revealed 12 large cell lymphomas (11 B cell and one T cell), two small noncleaved cell lymphomas (B-cell phenotype), and five low grade B-cell lymphomas (two small lymphocytic and three follicular mixed lymphomas). Patients with large cell lymphoma, including seven patients with stages I and II and five patients with stage IV, were treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy, with or without radiation therapy. One half of these patients are dead of disease, including four of seven with low stage disease. The two patients with small noncleaved cell lymphoma had stage IE disease and were treated with chemotherapy; one died at 11 months, and the other is alive and disease free at 65 months. Patients with low grade B-cell lymphoma included four stage IE patients who were treated with radiation and one stage IV patient treated with chemotherapy. Two patients are alive and disease free, and three are dead of unrelated causes. The authors conclude that malignant lymphomas initially diagnosed in soft tissues are most commonly large cell lymphomas with a B-cell phenotype.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Columnar cell carcinoma of the thyroid: report of three additional cases.

Columnar cell carcinoma is a recently described variant of thyroid carcinoma that has been associated with an aggressive clinical course. The authors describe three new cases of columnar cell carcinoma occurring in two women and one man aged 62, 46, and 46 years, respectively. The tumors ranged in size from 1 to 7.5 cm, and two of the tumors were associated with distant metastases. One patient died of disease 39 months after presentation. Another patient is alive with distant metastases 27 months after diagnosis. One patient appears to be a long-term survivor with no evidence of metastasis after follow-up of 22 years. This patient had a tumor that was small (1 cm) and encapsulated. DNA ploidy analysis in two tumors showed diploid DNA content, and there was no elevated S phase. All tumors were positive for thyroglobulin and negative for calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). These findings support the original observation that columnar cell variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma are usually aggressive neoplasms. There does not appear to be an increased incidence of DNA aneuploidy in columnar cell carcinomas to account for their more aggressive behavior. These tumors occur over a wide age range, can metastasize widely, and are not usually responsive to radioactive iodine or chemotherapy.

Bone Neoplasms↗

PubMed1996

Prostaglandin H synthase-catalyzed oxidation of all-trans- and 13-cis-retinoic acid to carbon-centered and peroxyl radical intermediates.

Due to the importance of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) in the treatment of various dermatological conditions and the wide distribution of prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) in tissues, we have further examined the mechanisms involved in the hydroperoxide-dependent cooxidation of RA and its isomer, 13-cis-retinoic acid ((13Z)-RA), by PGHS. Hydroperoxide-dependent, PGHS-catalyzed oxidation of RA and (13Z)-RA was shown to form free radical adducts, using electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping techniques and 5-phenyl-4-penten-1-yl hydroperoxide (PPHP) or 13-hydroperoxy-9-cis-11-trans-octadecadienoic acid (13-OOH-18:2) as hydroperoxide substrates. Utilization of the spin trap alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) resulted in the detection of (13Z)-RA-PBN and RA-PBN adducts whose spectra were characterized by hyperfine coupling constants of aH = 4.16/aN = 15.69 and aH = 3.01/aN =15.92, respectively. Identical experiments under anaerobic conditions were carried out using the spin trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (NtB) which yielded nitroxide adducts whose spectra were characterized by a triplet of doublets with values of aH = 3.49/aN = 15.84 for the (13Z)-RA adduct and aH = 3.49/aN = 15.88 for the RA adduct. These results are indicative of secondary carbon-centered radical formation. We also used (+)-benzo[a]pyrene 7(S),8(S)-dihydrodiol ((+)-BP-7,8-diol) as a peroxyl radical probe. The results demonstrated the formation of (+)-BP-7,8-diol-derived tetrols, with the trans-anti tetrol representing the major oxidation product in systems undergoing PPHP-dependent, PGHS-catalyzed oxidation of (13Z)-RA or RA. These results are consistent with the formation of peroxyl radicals in these systems. In all experiments, the (13Z)-RA isomer appeared to be a better substrate for the enzyme compared to the all-trans isomer. Collectively these results provide further evidence to support the previously proposed mechanism for retinoid oxidation by PGHS involving the intermediacy of C4 carbon-centered radicals which subsequently react with dioxygen, yielding retinoid-derived peroxyl radicals.

Anaerobiosis↗

PubMed1996

The glucagonoma syndrome. Clinical and pathologic features in 21 patients.

The glucagonoma syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by weight loss, necrolytic migratory erythema (NME), diabetes, stomatitis, and diarrhea. We identified 21 patients with the glucagonoma syndrome evaluated at the Mayo Clinic from 1975 to 1991. Although NME and diabetes help identify patients with glucagonomas, other manifestations of malignant disease often lead to the diagnosis. If the diagnosis is made after the tumor is metastatic, the potential for cure is limited. The most common presenting symptoms of the glucagonoma syndrome were weight loss (71%), NME (67%), diabetes mellitus (38%), cheilosis or stomatitis (29%), and diarrhea (29%). Although only 8 of the 21 patients had diabetes at presentation, diabetes eventually developed in 16 patients, 75% of whom required insulin therapy. Symptoms other than NME or diabetes mellitus led to the diagnosis of an islet cell tumor in 7 patients. The combination of NME and diabetes mellitus led to a more rapid diagnosis (7 months) than either symptom alone (4 years). Ten patients had diabetes mellitus before the onset of NME. No patients had NME clearly preceding diabetes mellitus. Increased levels of secondary hormones, such as gastrin (4 patients), vasoactive intestinal peptide (1 patient), serotonin (5 patients), insulin (6 patients, clinically significant in 1 only), human pancreatic polypeptide (2 patients), calcitonin (2 patients) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (2 patients), contributed to clinical symptoms leading to the diagnosis of an islet cell tumor before the onset of the full glucagonoma syndrome in 2 patients. All patients had metastatic disease at presentation. Surgical debulking, chemotherapy, somatostatin, and hepatic artery embolization offered palliation of NME, diabetes, weight loss, and diarrhea. Despite the malignant potential of the glucagonomas, only 9 of 21 patients had tumor-related deaths, occurring an average of 4.91 years after diagnosis. Twelve patients were still alive, with an average age follow-up of 3.67 years.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Microwave treatment enhances detection of RNA and DNA by in situ hybridization.

The use of oligonucleotide probes with nonisotopic detection systems has made in situ hybridization (ISH) more accessible for use in diagnostic pathology; however, ISH using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues remains much more sensitive when performed with radioactively labeled probes compared with nonisotopic reporter systems, especially using oligonucleotide probes. We investigated the effects of microwave pretreatment on the detection of RNA and DNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues in an attempt to improve the sensitivity of ISH with digoxigenin-labeled probes. Titration of normal tissues with oligonucleotide probe cocktails for albumin, prolactin, chromogranin (Cg) A and B mRNAs and a cDNA probe for JC virus showed a significant increase in sensitivity with the use of microwave treatment step rather than heating at 70 degrees C in 2 x SSC for 30 min. Analysis of various solutions used for microwaving showed that 10 mM citrate buffer was more effective than 2 x SSC, phosphate-buffered saline, tissue unmasking fluid, or water. A 15- to 20-min period of microwaving in an 800-W oven produced optimum results. Analysis of a group of tumors for albumin and CgA and B mRNAs and infected brain biopsies for JC virus DNA showed increased sensitivity of the microwave technique using digoxigenin-labeled probes. These results show that microwave treatment can enhance the detection of mRNA and DNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.

DNA↗

PubMed1996

Transforming growth factor-beta and p27 expression in pituitary cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) is a member of a family of growth factors that regulates differentiation and cellular proliferation in a wide variety of tissues, including the anterior pituitary gland. TGF beta regulates the expression of various proteins, including p27Kipl (p27), a cell cycle inhibitory protein. The cell types in normal rat anterior pituitary producing TGF beta1, one of the principal isoforms of TGF beta, and p27 were examined by in situ methods. The regulation of p27 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein by TGF beta1 was also examined in cultured anterior pituitary cells. In situ hybridization, in situ reverse transcriptase PCR, and immunocytochemical staining for pituitary hormones showed that PRL, TSH, and gonadotroph cells all had a higher percentage of cells expressing TGF beta1 mRNA and p27 protein than did GH and ACTH cells. After treatment with 10(-9) M TGF beta1 in vitro for 3 days, there were significant decreases in p27 mRNA and protein levels (P < 0.05) in normal pituitary cells. The GH3 and GHRH-CL1 cell lines, which secrete PRL and GH, had undetectable p27 protein by immunocytochemical staining and immunoblotting, although the GH3 cell line had p27 mRNA detected by reverse transcriptase PCR. Analysis of [3H]thymidine uptake in cultured dissociated pituitary cells by double staining for hormones showed that only PRL cells had significant proliferative activity during a 3-day cell culture period. There was a biphasic effect of TGF beta1 on PRL cell proliferation, with marked inhibition by 10(-9) M and a slight stimulation by 10(-13) M. These results indicate that there is a differential distribution of both TGF beta1 and p27 in various anterior pituitary cell types and that TGF beta1 directly down-regulates p27 in cultured anterior pituitary cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Pancreastatin secretion by pituitary adenomas and regulation of chromogranin B mRNA expression.

Pancreastatin, a carboxyl-terminal amidated peptide derived from chromogranin (Cg)A, inhibits secretion of insulin and parathyroid hormone. Our recent studies found significant amounts of immunoreactive pancreastatin in all pituitary adenomas except prolactin adenomas. To analyze the effects of pancreastatin on pituitary cell function, 17 cultured pituitary adenomas were examined for immunoreactive pancreastatin and pancreastatin secretion by the tumors. The effects of pancreastatin on pituitary hormone secretion and on pituitary hormone (follicle-stimulating hormone and prolactin), CgA, and CgB mRNA levels were also examined. Immunoreactive pancreastatin and CgA were present diffusely in gonadotroph and null cell adenomas, but only a few prolactin adenoma cells expressed pancreastatin or CgA. When cells were treated with hypothalamic peptides, gonadotroph adenomas were the only group that released increased amounts of pancreastatin in response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (10(-7) mol/L). Pancreastatin (10(-7) mol/L) treatment did not stimulate pituitary hormone secretion significantly. In situ hybridization analyses showed that gonadotropin-releasing hormone and pancreastatin treatment led to significant increases in CgB and follicle-stimulating hormone mRNAs in gonadotroph adenomas, whereas CgA mRNA levels did not change significantly. These results show that there is a differential distribution of pancreastatin secretion in pituitary adenomas and that the hypothalamic hormone gonadotropin-releasing hormone and the CgA-derived peptide pancreastatin can regulate CgB mRNA in gonadotroph adenomas, suggesting an autocrine effect of pancreastatin on pituitary tumor function.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1996

Mouse liver microsomal metabolism of chloral hydrate, trichloroacetic acid, and trichloroethanol leading to induction of lipid peroxidation via a free radical mechanism.

Metabolism of chloral hydrate (CH) by male B6C3F1 mouse liver microsomes (control-microsomes) generated free radical intermediates that resulted in endogenous lipid peroxidation, forming malondialdehyde (MDA), formaldehyde (FA), acetaldehyde (ACT), acetone, and propionaldehyde. Because MDA, FA, and ACT are tumorigens, endogenous formation of lipid peroxidation products via a free radical mechanism may be responsible for hepatocellular tumorigenicity of CH to the B6C3F1 mice. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and trichloroethanol (TCE), the primary metabolites of CH, also generated free radicals and induced lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation from TCA equaled that induced by CH, whereas that from TCE was 3- to 4-fold lower, suggesting that metabolism of CH to TCA may be the predominant pathway leading to lipid peroxidation. Metabolism of CH, TCA, and TCE by liver microsomes of mice pretreated with pyrazole (pyrazole-microsomes) yielded lipid peroxidation products at a level 2- to 3-fold higher than those from liver microsomes of untreated mice. In addition, CH-induced lipid peroxidation catalyzed by control-microsomes and pyrazole-microsomes was reduced significantly by 2,4-dichloro-6-phenylphenoxyethylamine, a general cytochrome P450 inhibitor. Thus, our study suggests that cytochrome P450 is the enzyme catalyzing the metabolic activation of CH and its metabolites (TCA and TCE) leading to lipid peroxidation, and that CYP2E1 may be the major isozyme responsible. This latter conclusion was supported by results using human lymphoblastoid cells expressing cytochrome P4502E1, which metabolized CH to reactants inducing mutations, whereas the parental cell line was inactive.

Allopurinol↗