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.
Jin
L
L
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Qian
X
X
Kulig
E
E
Scheithauer
B W
BW
Calle-Rodrigue
R
R
Abboud
C
C
Davis
D H
DH
Kovacs
K
K
Lloyd
R V
RV
D000236:Adenoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D001971:Bromocriptine