Intestine-associated antigens in ovarian tumours: an immunohistological study

The presence of 3 intestine-associated antigens, small intestine mucin antigen (SIMA), large intestine mucin antigen (LIMA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was studied in the female genital tract and ovarian tumours by immunofluorescence. These antigens could not be detected in normal ovary, benign cysts of ovary, fallopian tube or endometrium, but both LIMA and CEA were present in endocervical glandular tissue. The antigenic cross-reactivity of endocervical and large bowel mucin may indicate a close embryological relationship between these organs during the cloacogenic stage. The 3 antigens could be demonstrated in mucinous tumours of the ovary but were absent in serous or mesonephroid tumours. In one of the 2 endometroid tumours CEA was the only detectable antigen. These observations confirm the presence of intestinal type of epithelium in cystic mucinous tumours of the ovary and explain the cross-reactivity of mucin of benign tumours of the ovary and mucin from colonic cancer, normal colonic mucosa and gastric mucosa as reported by earlier workers. In the process of malignant transformation the columnar epithelium of ovarian cystadenoma seems to behave in the same way as superficial gastric and gall bladder epithelium by forming inappropriate intestine-associated mucin substances. Our technique may provide a specific means for studies on the histogenesis of female genital tract tumours, particularly ovarian tumours. It can also be used in differentiating between benign and malignant variants of these tumours.

Inappropriate mucin production in gall bladder metaplasia and neoplasia--an immunohistological study

This study demonstrates the presence of three antigens in glandular metaplasia occurring in patients with cholecystitis and cholelithiasis: specifically carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), large intestinal mucin antigen (LIMA) and small intestinal mucin antigen (SIMA). These antigens could not be detected in normal gall bladder mucosa or in squamous metaplasia of the gall bladder. The occurrence of the three intestine-associated antigens in three carcinomas was irregular. In one mucinous carcinoma, only SIMA could be demonstrated. In one adenocarcinoma, SIMA was present in small areas of mucinous change, whilst CEA was present in the non-mucinous malignant tissue. In a mixed mucinous and non-mucinous adenocarcinoma with widespread dissemination, the three antigens were present both in the primary tumour and the metastases. These observations suggest that all forms of glandular metaplasia of the gall bladder are intestinal in nature and at least a proportion of gall bladder carcinomas are of an intestinal type. Finally they provide further immunological evidence that glandular metaplasia of the gall bladder should be considered a pre-malignant condition.

The cardiovascular effect of vasopressin in relation to its plasma concentration in man and its relevance to high blood pressure

The cardiovascular response and the changes of plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentration following graded doses of AVP infused intravenously have been defined in six normal young men. The same measurements were also made during fluid deprivation in a patient with both nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and systemic hypertension. When, following AVP infusion, mean diastolic arterial pressure increased from 72 +/- 3 mmHg (SEM) to 78 +/- 2 mmHg (SEM) in the normal subject group, mean plasma AVP increased by 14.5 fmol/ml. When the patient was deprived of water, diastolic pressure increased, despite the fluid loss, from 90 to 105 mmHg, with a comparable increase of plasma AVP concentration of 15.3 fmol/ml. Further increases of plasma AVP concentration in either the normal subjects or in the patient were not associated with further increments of arterial pressure. We suggest that under pathophysiological circumstances in man plasma AVP concentrations may achieve levels which have a significant cardiovascular effect.

Another oncofoetal antigen in colonic carcinoma

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