Pituitary macroadenomas associated with hyperprolactinaemia: immunocytochemical and in-situ hybridization studies.

OBJECTIVE

We have assessed whether in-situ hybridization for prolactin messenger RNA (mRNA) provides additional information for the classification of pituitary macroadenomas associated with hyperprolactinaemia.

DESIGN

In-situ hybridization for PRL mRNA was performed on surgical biopsies of pituitary adenomas and the results correlated with serum PRL levels and PRL immunoreactivity.

PATIENTS: Twenty-one patients (11 men, 10 women) were included; five had normal serum PRL levels, 11 mild hyperprolactinaemia (less than 3000 mU/l) and five marked hyperprolactinaemia (greater than 3000 mU/l).

MEASUREMENTS: Immunocytochemistry for PRL and in-situ hybridization for PRL mRNA were performed on surgical biopsies.

RESULTS

Immunoreactivity for PRL was detected in tumours from all patients with serum PRL greater than 3000 mU/l and in one of 11 patients with mild hyperprolactinaemia. Positive signal for PRL mRNA was detected in four of five immunopositive cases studied, in a further two cases with mild hyperprolactinaemia, and in one tumour associated with normal serum PRL level.

CONCLUSIONS

In-situ hybridization provides evidence of PRL gene activation in the absence of immunoreactivity for prolactin. This may reflect low levels of hormone storage or defective translation of the mRNA.