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Immunoexpression of Androgen Receptor in the Nontumorous Pituitary and in Adenomas

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Abstract

Little information is available regarding androgen receptor immunoexpression (AR) in the normal and neoplastic human pituitary. Available experimental data links it to primarily gonadotroph cells. We undertook an immunohistochemical study of 41 autopsy-derived normal glands from patients of both sexes and all ages as well as 79 fully characterized pituitary adenomas of all types, the focus being upon AR expression in normal and neoplastic gonadotrophs. Nuclear AR immunoreactivity was noted in gonadotrophs and other normal adeno- and neurohypophysial cells. In addition to its presence in 74% of gonadotroph and 55% of null cell adenomas, lesser proportions of other adenoma types (adrenocorticotropic hormone 50%, prolactin 38%, growth hormone 33%) also exhibited AR immunoreactivity. No staining of thyroid-stimulating hormone adenomas was noted. The physiologic significance of our findings remains to be explored. The literature regarding AR expression in animal and human pituitaries is reviewed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. James Hopfenspirger for his photographic expertise and Mrs. Denise Chase for excellent secretarial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Bernd W. Scheithauer & Ricardo V. Lloyd

  2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Kalman Kovacs

  3. Department of Pathology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey

    Suzan Zorludemir & Seyda Erdogan

  4. Section of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Jeffrey Slezak

  5. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Bernd W. Scheithauer

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  1. Bernd W. Scheithauer
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Correspondence to Bernd W. Scheithauer.

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Scheithauer, B.W., Kovacs, K., Zorludemir, S. et al. Immunoexpression of Androgen Receptor in the Nontumorous Pituitary and in Adenomas. Endocr Pathol 19, 27–33 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-007-9012-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12022-007-9012-0

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