HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Coates, P. J. Articles by Besser, G. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Coates, P. J. Articles by Besser, G. M.

The presence of immunoreactive (ir)--MSH has been investigated by immunocytochemistry in 24 pituitary adenomas and one case of corticotroph hyperplasia causing Cushing's disease, in four adenomas causing Nelson's syndrome, and in ten 'silent' corticotroph adenomas. It was found that a high proportion of these adenomas have a population of cells containing ir--MSH in addition to ir-ACTH. In some instances, these adenomas were clearly not associated with the residual intermediate lobe of the pituitary. Radioimmunoassay of plasma from patients with Cushing's disease or Nelson's syndrome showed elevated levels of ir--MSH in the majority of cases. Characterization of the ir--MSH in adenoma cells by immunocytochemistry, using an antiserum selective for acetylated forms of -MSH, suggested that only the desacetyl form was present in each case examined. High-performance liquid chromatography of adenoma tissue extracts revealed material co-eluting with acetylated forms of -MSH in only one of six cases. These results have been compared with corticotroph adenomas in animal pituitary glands, and it is concluded that the presence of -MSH peptides cannot be used as a marker for intermediate lobe tumours, and that desacetyl -MSH is commonly produced by corticotroph adenomas.

Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 120, 531–536

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. White, D. W. Ray, A. Talbot, P. Abraham, A. J. Thody, and J. S. Bevan Cushing's Syndrome Due to Phaeochromocytoma Secreting the Precursors of Adrenocorticotropin J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2000; 85(12): 4771 - 4775. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. Satoh, T. Kajimura, and T. Yoshikawa A Case Report of Invasive Pituitary Tumors Containing Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Arising from the Pars Distalis in F344 Rats Toxicol Pathol, September 1, 2000; 28(5): 755 - 759. [PDF]