Ultrastructural morphometry of sparsely granulated prolactin cell adenomas of the human pituitary.
Fifteen sparsely granulated prolactin-producing adenomas and 10 nontumourous adenohypophyses, removed by surgical hypophysectomy, have been studied using morphometry at the electron microscopic level. Compared to non-tumourous prolactin cells, sparsely granulated adenomatous prolactin cells showed a significant decrease in diameter and volume density of secretory granules and an increased volume density of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. The volume density of mitochondria remained unchanged. These results indicate that the cells of the adenoma are in a highly active functional state. It appears that the equilibrium between hormone synthesis, storage and release is altered in adenomatous prolactin cells.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*
D011388:Prolactin