[Classification, pathology and molecular biology of pituitary adenoma]. / Klassifikatsiia, patologiia i molekuliarnaia biologiia adenom gipofiza.

Pituitary adenomas were once considered a homogenous collection of morphologic entities distinguishable pathologically by differences in cytoplasmic staining affinities. Methodological and conceptual advances over the past decade have since confirmed the contrary demonstrating that pituitary adenomas are morphologically and biologically diverse, and that designations such as acidophilic, basophilic and chromophobic, beyond their descriptive merit, are without consistent morphologic, endocrinologic or practical significance. The application of electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry has brought forth a new classification of pituitary adenomas based on ultrastructure and hormonal content, updating understanding of their pathology, secretory function and cytogenesis. As a primary objective, current functional classification of pituitary tumors is discussed in detail. In addition to reviewing the morphology of pituitary tumors, special emphasis is also placed on the important clinicopathologic correlations relevant to these lesions.

[Sex differences in the secretory activity of the gonads and in their sensitivity to gonadotropins in early ontogenesis of rats]. / Polovye razlichiia sekretornoi aktivnosti gonad v chuvstvitel'nosti k gonadotropinam v rannem ontogeneze u krysy

The secretion of estrogens by the ovaries of foetal (15-19 days of gestation) and newborn rats in organ cultures was not detected by fluorimetry when the ovary was taken prior to the onset of folliculogenesis. The time schedule of the process of folliculogenesis in organ culture corresponded to that in vivo. Estrogens were detected in the medium when folliculogenesis was fully established in organ cultures. The secretion began spontaneously and was not affected by the addition of gonadotropins to the medium. On the contrary, the secretion of androgens by the testes of foetal (17-19 days of gestation) and newborn rats in organ cultures was constantly detected by the competitive protein-binding assay. The addition of gonadotropins to the culture medium increased the level of androgen secretion by foetal and newborn rats.

PIP: The influence of gonadotropins on the specific secretory activity of the gonads of rats was studied under cultivation. The ovaries and testicles were cultivated in rats from 15-day-old fetuses to newborn, over the course of 4-21 days with and without the addition of gonadotropins. Under these conditions the secretion of estrogens by the ovaries was detected only after the appearance of the 1st follicular cells. The addition of gonadotropins did not speed up this process, although it did increase the intensity of it to an insignificant degree. The secretion of the sex hormones in the testicles was observed at all phases of development studied (from the 17th day of the fetus until birth). The addition of gonadotropins intensified the secretion of androgens of the seminal glands throughout the entire period.