Enzyme-immunoassay for estrogen receptors in human pituitary adenomas.
We have performed an enzyme-immunoassay for estrogen receptor on 56 human pituitary adenomas and compared the results with a single point estradiol binding assay. There was a significant positive correlation between the two assays of cytoplasmic estrogen receptor (r = 0.960). Normal human pituitaries (N = 2) had an estrogen receptor concentration of 17 fmol/mg protein by enzyme-immunoassay. Of 14 prolactinomas, 6 (43%) contained estrogen receptor with a concentration of 33.5 +/- 7.4 (mean +/- SEM) fmol/mg protein. Six of 11 (55%) macroprolactinomas were estrogen receptor-positive, whereas all 3 microprolactinomas were estrogen receptor-negative. Only one (13%) of 8 GH- and PRL-secreting adenomas, and 3 of 6 (50%) gonadotropin-secreting adenomas were estrogen receptor-positive; the latter had a concentration of 13.5 +/- 1.6 fmol/mg protein. Estrogen receptor was not detected in 21 pure GH-secreting adenomas and 7 nonsecreting adenomas. These results demonstrate the precise frequency of estrogen receptor in various human pituitary adenomas, since enzyme-immunoassay as well as single point estradiol binding assay could detect estrogen receptor even in small specimens. Enzyme-immunoassay is suitable for evaluation of estrogen receptor status in human pituitary adenomas.
Nakao
H
H
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka University Hospital, Japan.
Koga
M
M
Arao
M
M
Nakao
M
M
Sato
B
B
Kishimoto
S
S
Saitoh
Y
Y
Arita
N
N
Mori
S
S
D000236:Adenoma / Q000032:analysis*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003600:Cytosol / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000032:analysis*; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*
D011959:Receptors, Estradiol; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen