Combined non-isotopic in situ hybridisation and indirect immunohistochemical analysis of hormone production in the rat pituitary gland

Cytochemical and molecular biological aspects of the pituitary and pituitary adenomas--cell differentiation and transcription factors

The anterior pituitary is composed of several cell types, each responsible for the production of specific hormones. Each hormone secreting cells is defined by the activation of its respective hormone genes in a temporally and spatially regulated manner. Recent development in cytochemistry and molecular biology have provided various aspects of human pituitary adenomas, i.e., functional differentiation and classification. The molecular factors that determine hormone production have now been identified as transcription factors. Many novel transcription factors that play a role in anterior pituitary development are implicated. In this review, we focus on the transcriptional factors roles on functional differentiation of the pituitary cells and adenomas and the contribution of cytochemistry and recent development in molecular biological techniques.

Nonradioactive In Situ Hybridization: Recent Techniques and Applications

In situ hybridization (ISH) has become a standard method for the localization of nucleic acid sequences in chromosomes, single cells, and tissue sections. Nonradioactive ISH has not only eliminated the problems associated with radioactive probes but has also achieved a higher degree of resolution. Advances in probe preparation and labeling methods have facilitated the general application of ISH. In combination with immunohistochemistry, ISH can provide histological information on gene activity at the DNA, mRNA, and protein levels. Some nonradioactive ISH can simultaneously detect nucleic acid sequences in the same tissue or in a chromosome spread. Advances in ISH technology, including use of the polymerase chain reaction offer both a high sensitivity allowing detection of low levels of gene expression and the cytological localization of gene sequences.

Molecular Pathology of the Pituitary Adenomas

Molecular techniques have been applied to the study of pituitary adenomas by many investigators. We have used nonisotopic in situ hybridization (ISH) to analyze pituitary adenomas in our laboratory. These studies have provided insight into mRNA production by various adenomas, and have contributed toward our new proposed clinical and cytofunctional classification of pituitary adenomas.