Cation-sensitive neutral endopeptidase: isolation and specificity of the bovine pituitary enzyme

A highly purified preparation of a cation-sensitive neutral endopeptidase was obtained from bovine pituitaries. The enzyme constitutes almost 0.1% of the protein in bovine pituitary homogenates. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enzyme showed a single protein band, and in gel filtration experiments on calibrated Sepharose 6B columns the enzyme eluted slightly ahead of thyroglobulin, suggesting an apparent molecular weight of about 700,000. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS-containing buffers indicated the presence of three major components with molecular weights ranging from about 24,000 to 28,000. The enzyme hydrolyzes bonds between hydrophobic and small neutral amino acids in both model synthetic substrates and biologically active peptides such as substance P, LH-RH, and bradykinin. Peptide bonds in which the carbonyl group is contributed by a glutamyl or arginyl residue are also hydrolyzed, especially if they are preceded in the sequence by hydrophobic amino acids. Leupeptin exclusively inhibited enzymatic activity toward the arginine-containing substrates. This observation, together with the high molecular weight and broad specificity of the enzyme, raised the possibility that the isolated enzyme represents a proteolytic complex composed of units with distinctly different activities. Preliminary attempts to dissociate the enzyme into catalytic units of lower molecular weight were not successful and led to loss of activity.     

Quantitative autoradiographic assessment of 3H-estradiol uptake in immunocytochemically characterized pituitary cells

Summary Dry-mount autoradiography was combined with peroxidase immunocytochemistry to examine estrogen uptake in four pituitary cell types. Quantification by silver grain counts was used to compare ³H-estradiol uptake in nuclei of pituitary cells 60 min after i.v. injection into short-term (control) and long-term ovariectomized and in long-term thyroidectomized rats. Under all three hormonal states, the order of labeling intensity was: gonadotropes > somatotropes > lactotropes > thyrotropes. Long-term ovariectomy caused a significant increase in estrogen uptake of gonadotropes, somatotropes and lactotropes, while uptake in thyrotropes decreased. Long-term thyroidectomy decreased uptake in somatotropes, lactotropes and thyrotropes while gonadotropes remained unchanged.Supported by NICHHD grant HD-03007 to D.A.K., NICHHD grant HD-03110 to the Biological Sciences Research Center of Child Development Research Institute and a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to the Laboratories for Reproductive Biology.     

Ligh- and electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry of somatotropes in the anterior pituitary gland of European ferret,Mustela putorius furo

Light-microscopic immunocytochemistry of ferret anterior pituitary revealed the localization of somatotropes in the pars distalis, but no immunoreactive cells were detected in the pars tuberalis. Ultrastructural studies by superimposition immunocytochemistry and immuno-electron microscopy, clucidated the morphological heterogeneity of these somatotropic cells. They were classified into 2 subtypes on the basis of size of the secretory granules. Type-I cells with small granules (mean diameter, 192 nm), were considered to be the immature somatotrop, while Type-II cells, with comparatively larger secretory granules (mean diameter, 257 nm), were considered to be the matured form of Type-I cells and the typical somatotropic cell-type, and were much more predominant than the Type-I cells. The fact that Type-II cells had a distinct Golgi zone and many mitochondria, while in Type-I cells the intracellular organelles were generally less developed, supports this suggestion. In addition to these two extreme subtypes, several intermediate forms were also encountered that may represent different transitional phases during the conversion of Type I to Type II. Protein A-gold immuno-electron microscopy illustrated the specific localization of growth hormone over the granules, with no labelling over any other cytoplasmic organelles of the 2 somatotrope subtypes.     

替莫唑胺在侵袭性垂体瘤及垂体腺癌中的治疗进展

替莫唑胺(TMZ)是一种口服二代咪唑并四嗪类具有抗肿瘤活性的烷化剂,通过对DNA鸟嘌呤的甲基化来干扰基因转录而诱导DNA损伤,目前是治疗恶性胶质瘤的一线化疗药物.最近有关于TMZ治疗侵袭性垂体腺瘤及垂体癌的报道,有效率分别为60％和69％,且未发生明显并发症.O6-甲基鸟嘌呤-DNA转移酶(MGMT)的表达水平与其疗效呈负相关,从而可能干扰其疗效,由于目前缺乏对垂体癌及侵袭性垂体瘤的有效治疗手段,所以不应否认TMZ对此类患者的治疗有效性.TMZ对侵袭性垂体瘤及垂体癌的治疗机制及有效性仍需进一步探索.     

额底纵裂入路手术对鞍上第三脑室底垂体瘤的疗效分析

目的：分析经额底纵裂入路治疗鞍上第三脑室底垂体瘤的疗效,探讨其临床适用性。方法：选择从2011年1月~2013年1月与我院行额底纵裂入路手术治疗的30例鞍上第三脑室底垂体瘤的患者,术中行单侧额或双侧额弧形切口,根据术中所见肿瘤位置,由终板、视神经一颈内动脉等存在的生理间隙处切除肿瘤,观察所有患者的手术疗效。结果：所有患者术中可见肿瘤位于鞍内鞍上,部分或全部突入第三脑室底,其中有6例患者伴有脑积水。术中肿瘤全切23例,次全切5例,大部切除2例,无手术死亡病例。术前25例患者视力减退,术后23例患者视力均获得不同程度改善,仅1例暂无明显变化。术后19例出现电解质紊乱,患者经治疗后均已纠正;12例出现不同程度的尿崩症,给予患者药物治疗后,病情得到缓解。术后随访6个月,23例肿瘤全切患者病灶无复发,另外4例次全切者病灶也无明显变化,仅1例次全切和2例大部切除患者于术后行伽马刀再次治疗。结论：经额底纵裂入路治疗鞍上第三脑室底垂体瘤可以达到视野清晰,直观下进行肿瘤切除,手术效果好,并发症较少,适合临床长期推广应用。     

垂体瘤微环境免疫细胞浸润与肿瘤侵袭性的相关性研究

目的:探讨垂体瘤免疫微环境中免疫细胞浸润情况及其与垂体瘤侵袭性的相关性。方法:选取35例垂体瘤病理组织切片,通过免疫组化染色分析巨噬细胞、T细胞以及中性粒细胞的特异性标记蛋白CD68、CD4、CD8和MPO的表达情况。结合临床和影像学数据分析,分析生长激素腺瘤、泌乳素腺瘤和无功能腺瘤的侵袭性与免疫细胞浸润数量的相关性。结果:在15例生长激素腺瘤,10例泌乳素腺瘤和10例无功能性腺瘤患者中,侵袭性垂体瘤中有更多的巨噬细胞浸润(P分别为0.014,0.032和0.032)。侵袭性促生长激素腺瘤、泌乳素腺瘤和无功能性腺瘤巨噬细胞浸润数量均明显多于非侵袭性促生长激素腺瘤、泌乳素腺瘤和无功能性腺瘤(P0.05)。结论:在垂体腺瘤中,巨噬细胞是肿瘤免疫微环境的主体。巨噬细胞浸润可能促进垂体瘤的进展。