Detection of growth hormone, prolactin and human beta-chorionic gonadotropin mRNA in growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas and in prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas by in situ hybridization using a non-isotopic detection method

Abstract

A non-isotopic in situ hybridization method with digoxigenin-labelled probes was used to examine growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and human beta-chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG(LH)) gene expression in 63 pituitary tumours in acromegaly and 20 adenomas in hyperprolactinaemia. hCG and LH were detected simultaneously because of the extensive homology (more than 90%) of their mRNA sequences (1). A comparison with former results obtained with 35S-labelled probes shows the value of the easier and faster non-isotopic method. Additionally, immunohistochemical data are included to give even more evidence for the synthesis of the respective hormones by the tumour cells. In all 63 adenomas in acromegaly, GH mRNA was revealed in 59 PRL mRNA and in 36 beta-hCG(LH) mRNA. A positive immunostaining for GH was found in all, for PRL in 40, and for beta-hCG(LH) in 34 adenomas. The comparison of the two in situ hybridization methods revealed no differences concerning GH mRNA detection, but not all tumours positive after non-isotopic PRL and beta-hCG(LH) mRNA detection showed signals with the radioactive method. Referring to the 20 PRL-secreting adenomas, PRL gene expression was demonstrable in all, GH mRNA in 12, and beta-hCG(LH) mRNA in 2 cases. Comparing the positive results of immunohistochemistry with those of in situ hybridization, correspondence was found in 19 cases for PRL, in 5 cases for GH and in no case for beta-hCG(LH).