Peanut agglutinin binding to human prolactin-producing pituitary adenomas.
Peanut agglutinin (PNA)-binding sites in human prolactin (PRL)-producing pituitary adenomas were examined by light and electron microscopy together with immunoblot analysis. At the light microscopic level, the majority of the PRL-producing adenoma cells stained positively for PNA in 15 of 20 cases. PNA binding observed in the cytoplasm had a granular appearance. PRL-producing cells adjacent to the adenoma tissue showed negative PNA staining. In normal pituitary glands, the PRL-positive glandular cells were negative for PNA staining. By electron microscopy, reaction products showing PNA-binding sites were detected in some of the secretory granules. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that the PRL bands corresponded to PNA-stained ones with the exception of the main 23-kDa band. PNA-binding sites have some relation to the secretory granules containing glycosylated forms of PRL. These observations suggest that PNA staining can be used as a valuable method to analyze human PRL-producing pituitary adenomas.
Kurosaki
M
M
Division of Neurosurgery, Tottori University School of Medicine, Japan.
Hori
T
T
Takata
K
K
Kawakami
H
H
Hirano
H
H
D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D011388:Prolactin