title: Immunoexpression of androgen receptor in the nontumorous pituitary and in adenomas.
abstract: Little information is available regarding androgen receptor immunoexpression (AR) in the normal and neoplastic human pituitary. Available experimental data links it to primarily gonadotroph cells. We undertook an immunohistochemical study of 41 autopsy-derived normal glands from patients of both sexes and all ages as well as 79 fully characterized pituitary adenomas of all types, the focus being upon AR expression in normal and neoplastic gonadotrophs. Nuclear AR immunoreactivity was noted in gonadotrophs and other normal adeno- and neurohypophysial cells. In addition to its presence in 74% of gonadotroph and 55% of null cell adenomas, lesser proportions of other adenoma types (adrenocorticotropic hormone 50%, prolactin 38%, growth hormone 33%) also exhibited AR immunoreactivity. No staining of thyroid-stimulating hormone adenomas was noted. The physiologic significance of our findings remains to be explored. The literature regarding AR expression in animal and human pituitaries is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. scheithauer.bernd@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Bernd W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
authors.forename: Kalman
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zorludemir
authors.forename: Ricardo V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Seyda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slezak
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009893:Opossums; D010215:Papio; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000473:pathology; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000473:pathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D011944:Receptors, Androgen