Histologic and immunohistochemical characterization of spontaneous pituitary adenomas in fourteen cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis).

Pituitary adenomas were identified in 14 of 491 (2.9%) cynomolgus macaques evaluated from 1994 to 2004. Cases included male (8) and female (6) cynomolgus macaques ranging from 18 to 32 years of age. Seven of the pituitary adenomas caused gross enlargement of the pituitary gland that was visible on postmortem examination, whereas the remaining 7 were multifocal microadenomas identified on histologic examination. A total of 35 adenomas were identified in the 14 macaques, 6 of which were being treated for diabetes mellitus. Mean (+/- SD) pituitary weight was 0.31 +/- 0.42 g, compared with 0.07 +/- 0.02 g for 430 historical control animals (P < 0.0001). Immunohistochemical staining for follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, human growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone was applied to pituitary tissue from all cases. Immunostaining revealed 22 of 35 (62.9%) lactotroph adenomas, 5 of 35 (14.3%) plurihormonal cell adenomas, 3 of 35 (8.6%) corticotroph adenomas, 2 of 35 (5.7%) null cell adenomas, 1 of 35 (2.9%) somatotroph adenomas, 1 of 35 (2.9%) mixed corticotroph-somatotroph adenomas, 1 of 35 (2.9%) mixed lactotroph-corticotroph adenomas, 0 of 35 gonadotroph adenomas, and 0 of 35 thyrotroph adenomas. This study represents the first extensive retrospective case series performed to evaluate the histologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of pituitary adenomas in cynomolgus macaques. Our findings indicated that macaque pituitary adenomas frequently had mixed histologic appearance and hormone expression, and that, similar to human pituitary adenomas, prolactin-secreting neoplasms were the most prevalent type.

Characterization of CA 125 synthesized by the human epithelial amnion WISH cell line.

CA 125 has been established as an important tumor marker for monitoring patients diagnosed with nonmucinous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma although it has also been shown to be expressed by other carcinomas, normal epithelial tissues, and fetal tissues. Current evidence implicates a role for CA 125 during early fetal development. The human epithelial amnion WISH cell line is a known secretor of CA 125. WISH cells have been investigated as a model system to characterize the structure of cell-associated and secreted CA 125 of fetal origin. CA 125 secretion was maximal in confluent monolayers of WISH cells where it averaged 2,081 units/ml/24 h. Secretion ranges from 600 to 900 units/10(6) cells/24 h. [35S]-Methionine-labelled CA 125 can be detected by 4 h and reached maximal levels of radioactive incorporation in tissue culture medium by 12 h when analyzed by immunoprecipitation with the M11 anti-CA 125 monoclonal antibody and SDS-PAGE, followed by autoradiography. Both cycloheximide and actinomycin D inhibited CA 125 synthesis. CA 125 was demonstrated to incorporate [3H]-galactose but the level of radioactive incorporation was greatly reduced when WISH cells were incubated in the presence of phenyl N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminide (an inhibitor of O-linked glycosylation) or monensin (an inhibitor of intracellular protein transport within the Golgi complex). Treatment of WISH cells with tunicamycin (an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation) only slightly decreased label incorporation.

Pathogenesis of Trypanosoma equiperdum in rabbits.

Seventeen rabbits experimentally infected with Trypanosoma equiperdum were examined for lesions at different times during a 5-month period. A chancroid developed at the inoculation site in the skin, and later, similar lesions appeared in skin of the ears, eyelids, and nose. The inflammatory reaction was primarily granulomatous, and viable trypanosomes were present in all skin lesions. The rabbits had reticuloendothelial hyperplasia of spleen and lymph nodes. In 3 rabbits, there was amyloid deposition in splenic lymph nodules and renal glomeruli. Amyloid had typical fibrillar appearance by electron microscopy (EM) and was reactive for immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) with fluorescent antibody (FA). With time, there was lessening capability of T equiperdum to agglutinate in antiserums of infected rabbits, suggesting that antigenic variation occurred during infection. The serum concentrations of IgM and IgG increased significantly in the infected rabbits and then remained elevated or they decreased, though fluctuating widely. Three of 5 infected rabbits demonstrated depressed antibody response to injected ovine erythrocytes.