抄録
Operative specimens of 73 pituitary adenoma cases (25 cases of prolactinoma, 24 cases of acromegaly, 21 cases of non-functioning adenoma, and 3 cases of gonadotropin secreting adenoma) were examined immunohistochemically for luteinizing hormone (LH) β subunit, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) α subunit, FSH β subunit, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by using the peroxidase antiperoxidase method.
Four cases of prolactinoma were positive for the FSH a subunit. Nineteen cases of acromegaly were positive for the FSH α subunit. These cases were also positive for the FSH β and/or LH β subunit. In gonadotropin secreting adenoma all 3 were positive for both FSH α and β subunits. Eleven cases of non-functioning adenoma were positive for the FSH α subunit. Six of 11 (3 male and 3 female) were positive only for FSH α subunit. A high serum human chorionic gonadotropin a subunit value was recognized in 1 case of these 6.
In an endocrinological study of non-functioning adenoma cases of positive FSH a subunit low response of TSH to TSH-releasing hormone loading and low response of LH to LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) loading were found. However, this abnormal response was not statistically significant. In FSH response to LH-RH loading 1 case had delayed response and 7 cases had low response. This abnormal FSH response to LH-RH was statistically significant in 9 FSH α subunit positive cases.
These data indicate that there are a subunit secreting pituitary adenomas in the group which has been diagnosed as “non-functioning adenoma”.
