Characterization of mammotrophs separated from the human pituitary gland

Application of a Percoll density gradient to separate and enrich porcine pituitary cell types

The application of a Percoll density gradient cell separation procedure to the pituitary gland of neonatal, prepubertal and mature pigs is described. After enzymatic dispersion, cell viability was 90% to 98% as determined by uptake of Trypan Blue. Recovery of dissociated cells after application of the gradient ranged from 80% to 95%. The dissociated cells were separated in several fractions that were characterized immunocytochemically using different antisera. We obtained highly enriched fractions of gonadotrope (gonadotropins), somatotrope (growth hormone) and lactotrope (prolactin) cells for each age. Concentration of the cell types (purity) was higher than 60% in the following fractions: 1) gonadotropin cells, fraction 15 (1.033 g/cc of density) from mature animals; 2) growth hormone cells, fraction 3 (1.121 g/cc of density) from neonatal animals and fraction 9 (1.087 g/cc) from prepubertal animals; and 3) prolactin cells, fraction 7 (1.094 g/cc) and 10 (1.082 g/cc) from neonatal animals and fraction 14 (1.051 g/cc) from mature pigs. In thyrotrope (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and corticotrope (adrenocorticotropin) cells, enriched fractions were also obtained, although the values of purity were lower (20% to 58%). In conclusion, the proposed cell separation and enrichment technique is suitable for the isolation, purification and examination of porcine pituitary cell types and subpopulations, and offers major advantages such as simplicity, rapidity, efficiency and reproducible results.

Immunoelectron microscopy for growth hormone and prolactin in pituitary adenomas

Growth hormone (GH)- and prolactin (Prl)-producing pituitary adenomas were studied with immunoelectron microscopy using protein A-gold complex, and were compared with the normal pituitary gland. GH-producing cells were readily identifiable by numerous, uniformly dense, round secretory granules in both adenomas and normal pituitary gland. In contrast, Prl secretory granules in normal pituitary gland were much larger in size than the scarce, smaller, secretory granules of Prl-producing adenomas. Thus immunoelectron microscopic identification of Prl is more valuable for prolactinoma. With more specific antigens available as tumor markers, immunoelectron microscopy appears to be a powerful tool for tumor diagnosis.

Cell separation: a review

This review summarizes currently available techniques for cell separation. Techniques that exploit differences in physical properties of cells are widely used but have a number of limitations. Those that are based on differences in surface properties may more readily permit reproducible separation of a functionally homogeneous population of cells. Unfortunately very few techniques achieve separation of cells on the basis of differences in their functional characteristics.

Respiration rate in human pituitary tumor explants

Studies on the respiration rate of human pituitary tumor tissue have so far been lacking in the literature. This study presents the results from four adenomas causing acromegaly, all with different clinical degrees of the disease. Determination of oxygen uptake was performed in vitro with a spectrophotorespirometric system. Pieces of the tumors were explanted to an organ culture system with a high degree of stability. The secretion rate of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) was determined. After 4-8 days in vitro, specimens were analyzed for respiration rate. This was approximately 1-1.5 microliters O2/h/micrograms dry weight. The activity of the pituitary tumor tissue was characterized by both the hormone secretion rate and the respiration rate. Particularly active foci were found to occur in the adenoma tissue. Depending on the individual tumor, the GH secretion rate was approximately 0.1-100 pmol/micrograms dry weight/h and PRL secretion rate approximately 0.4-18 micrograms/micrograms dry weight/h. The respiration rate--as is also the hormone secretion rate--is dependent on the time in vitro prior to analysis. The respiration rate in individual tumors is a parameter which does not reflect GH or PRL serum levels or clinical activity of the disease.

An electrophysiological study of cultured human pituitary cells

The electrophysiological properties of tumoral pituitary cells were studied in 4 types of human adenomas including prolactinomas, growth-hormone-secreting tumors, adrenocorticotropin-hormone-secreting adenoma and 'non-functioning' tumors. Only 9% of the cells from prolactinomas and ACTH tumors were excitable but they never elicited spontaneous action potentials. These cells did not respond to substances known to act on the hormone-releasing process (thyreoliberin, dopamine). However, 37% of the cells cultured from growth-hormone-secreting adenomas and from 'non-functioning' tumors displayed action potentials. The action potential was calcium-dependent, i.e., it was blocked by cobalt, nickel and methoxyverapamil and could be recorded in a sodium-free medium. Thyreoliberin triggered action potentials, whereas dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid inhibited electrical activity. These results show that human tumoral pituitary cells in culture are able to generate Ca2+-dependent action potentials. The data from growth-hormone-secreting tumors are in good agreement with the stimulus-secretion coupling concept; however, differences in the response of cells cultured from other types of human pituitary tumors suggest that each type of adenoma has specialized membrane properties.

Feedback effects of mammary gland tumors on the host pituitary prolactin cell

Prolactin (PRL) cells in pituitary glands of F-344 female rats bearing transplantable mammary gland adenocarcinomas (13762, 3230) were smaller, contained less intracellular hormone, and released less hormone in culture relative to non tumor-bearing littermates. In some instances removal of the tumor by surgery or chemotherapy (PAM) resulted in restoration of function in vitro. On the other hand, PRL cells from pituitaries of breast cancer patients were often hypertrophied. Since these patients had mastectomies prior to hypophysectomy, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that the tumor exerts negative feedback at the pituitary or hypothalamic level. In support of this hypothesis we have discovered a potent PIF in rat serum. In addition, an experimental protocol involving a) encapsulation of pituitary cells in Amicon hollow fibers, b) their implantation in ectopic sites and c) their subsequent in vitro culture yields data which suggest that the brain of the tumor bearing rat suppresses PRL release. It is suggested that decreased PRL cell function in animals bearing certain mammary tumors ultimately favors metastatic activity of the tumor cell.

[Mammotropic and somatotropic pituitary cells in spontaneous mammary tumor bearing C3H female mice. A quantitative electron microscope study]

Pituitaries of mammary tumor-bearing mice (C3H) were examined by quantitative electron microscopy. The results indicate that considerable modifications occur in mammotropic and somatotropic cells. Both types show an increase of the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum and a decrease of the volume of secretory granules (in percent of cytoplasmic volume), suggesting a heightened secretory activity of these cells during mammary carcinogenesis.