title: Galanin in pituitary adenomas.
abstract: Tumor galanin content was measured in extracts from human pituitary adenomas using a specific RIA method for monitoring human galanin. Twenty-two out of twenty-four tumors contained galanin with notably high levels in corticotroph adenomas, varying levels in clinically inactive tumors, and low levels in GH secreting adenomas. Tumor galanin and ACTH contents were closely correlated in all tumors. In four young patients with microadenomas and highly active Mb Cushing tumor galanin was inversely related to tumor volume. The molecular form of tumor galanin, studied with reverse-phase HPLC, was homogeneous with the majority of tumor galanin coeluting with standard human galanin. In the tumors analysed with in situ hybridization there was a good correlation between galanin peptide levels and galanin mRNA expression. In some tumors galanin mRNA and POMC levels coexisted, in others they were essentially in different cell populations. Levels of plasma galanin-LI were not related to tumor galanin concentration, and galanin levels were in the same range in sinus petrosus close to the pituitary venous drainage as in peripheral blood. Corticotrophin releasing hormone injections in two patients caused ACTH, but no detectable galanin release into sinus petrosus. Our results demonstrate that corticotroph, but not GH adenomas, express high levels of galanin, in addition to ACTH, and that in some tumors both polypeptides are synthesised in the same cell population. However, galanin levels in plasma were not influenced by the tumor galanin content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Endocrine and Diabetes Unit, Karolinska Hospital, S-17176 Stockholm, Sweden. Eva.Grenback@ks.se
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grenbäck
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bjellerup
authors.forename: Ella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wallerman
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lundblad
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anggård
authors.forename: Kaj
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ericson
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aman
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.forename: Wolfgang E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hökfelt
authors.forename: Anna-Lena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hulting
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D019004:Galanin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D019004:Galanin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone