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Microsurgical anatomy of membranous layers of the pituitary gland and the expression of extracellular matrix collagenous proteins

  • Experimental research
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Abstract

Background

There are several reports about the microanatomical and histological features of sellar and parasellar membranous structures and clinical studies about MMP proteinase as a predictive factor. However, studies on collagen contents of sellar and parasellar membranous structures are limited. We demonstrated the membranous structures surrounding the pituitary gland and defined extracellular matrix (ECM) collagenous proteins, collagen I-IV expression patterns of sellar and parasellar connective tissues.

Methods

The study was carried out on ten fresh postmortem human bodies at the Forensic Medicine Institution. Cavernous sinuses were resected with sellar structures and were stored at −80°C liquid nitrogen tanks. Medial wall of the cavernous sinus, pituitary capsule and pituitary tissue samples were obtained for RT-PCR. Opposite side specimens were used for histological and immune staining studies. Collagens I-IV were studied by immunohistochemical and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods.

Findings

The pituitary capsule and medial wall were identified as two different structures. The fibrous membrane, as the third membrane, was identified as staying whole in eight of ten specimens. Increased type IV collagen was determined in the pituitary gland, medial wall and pituitary capsule, respectively, in both RT-PCR and immunhistochemical studies. Immunhistochemical studies revealed that collagen I was strongly expressed in both the medial wall and pituitary gland.

Conclusion

Increased type IV collagen was detected especially in pituitary tissue, the medial wall and the pituitary capsule by immune staining and RT-PCR. Type IV collagen was considered to be an important factor in the progression of adenoma and invasion.

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Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pituitary Research Centre, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey

    Savas Ceylan, Ihsan Anik & Kenan Koc

  2. Department of Neurosurgery Kocaeli, Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Pituitary Research Centre, Eski İstanbul Yolu 10.km Umuttepe, İzmit, Kocaeli, Turkey

    Savas Ceylan, Ihsan Anik & Kenan Koc

  3. Department of Histology and Embryology Turkey, Ordu University, School of Medicine, Ordu, Turkey

    Sibel Kokturk

  4. Department of Histology and Embryology Kocaeli, Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey

    Sureyya Ceylan

  5. Department of Medical Genetics and Clinical Research Unit, Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey

    Naci Cine & Hakan Savli

  6. National Forensic Institute of Ministry of Justice, İstanbul, Turkey

    Gozde Sirin, Bulent Sam & Nurperi Gazioglu

  7. Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey

    Nurperi Gazioglu

Authors
  1. Savas Ceylan
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  2. Ihsan Anik
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  3. Kenan Koc
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  4. Sibel Kokturk
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  5. Sureyya Ceylan
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  6. Naci Cine
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  7. Hakan Savli
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  8. Gozde Sirin
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  9. Bulent Sam
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  10. Nurperi Gazioglu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Savas Ceylan.

Additional information

Comment

In this interesting article, Ceylan and co-workers defined the microsurgical anatomy of membranous layers of the pituitary gland and expression levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) collagenous proteins.

Indeed, they collected a conspicuous series of data showing the high concentration of type IV collagen, especially in adenohypophysis, medial wall and pituitary capsule. The most interesting consideration concerns the relationship between the role of the metalloproteinase-9 (type IV collagenase) in the ECM degradation, as a part of a possible control mechanism of type IV collagen concentration in the medial wall of cavernous sinus and pituitary capsule, determining the grade of tumor invasiveness. The degradation of ECM proteins, in fact, is required as a crucial part of tumor invasion pathway and type IV collagenase, i.e., MMP-9, seems to play a pivotal role in this proteolytic process. Indeed, the identification of its expression could have a critical relevance in the management of lesions extending into the cavernous sinus, representing a predicting factor of tumor invasiveness.

Paolo Cappabianca

Michelangelo De Angelis

Napoli, Italy

The authors have undertaken an interesting study examining the type of collagen in the pituitary, pituitary capsule and medial wall of the cavernous sinus. They have utilized both immunostaining for protein expression and RT-PCR. Demonstration of the presence of type IV collagen in the roof, pituitary capsule and medial wall of the cavernous sinus is a potentially important finding, in that the presence of this collagen may enhance the invasion of adenomas which may secrete MMP9 (type IV collagenase). This is an interesting hypothesis; in addition to providing insight into the mechanism of tumor invasion, this also may provide a target for therapy. The authors are to be congratulated on their paper, which should stimulate further work by these and other workers in the field.

William T. Couldwell

Utah, USA

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Ceylan, S., Anik, I., Koc, K. et al. Microsurgical anatomy of membranous layers of the pituitary gland and the expression of extracellular matrix collagenous proteins. Acta Neurochir 153, 2435–2443 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-011-1182-3

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