Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immunohistochemical study of granular cell tumors and granular pituicytes of the neurohypophysis

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Endocrine Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Six neurohypophysial GCTs and 31 normal neurohypophysis were studied by immunohistochemical techniques. The latter were grouped into A (< 5 yr old), B (30–49 yr), and C (> 70 yr). GCTs were all labeled by PNA, and some showed reactivity for S-100 protein, AAT, AAC, and cathepsin B. In addition, some were oxytocin- and vasopressinpositive. Unlike extracranial GCTs, neuron-specific enolase, myelin basic protein, and vimentin were not detected. Glial fibrillary acidic protein, keratin, and desmin were also not observed. In contrast, a few cells of the normal neurohypophysis showed immunoreactivity for AAT, AAC, cathepsin B, and PNA, similar to the cells of GCT. These cells tended to increase in number with age: group A showed fewer cathepsin B-positive cells than groups B and C (p < 0.001). These results show that neurohypophysial GCTs have some features that differentiate them from extracranial GCTs, for which a Schwann cell origin has been proposed by many authors. It was concluded that neurohypophysial GCT may originate from the cells that showed similar immunoreactivity, the “granular” pituicytes. Our results also support the hypothesis that neurohypophysial GCTs are an age-related metabolic disorder of lysosomes rather than true neoplasms.Endocr Pathol 4:140–145, 1993.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abenoza P, Siblcy RK. Granular cell myoma and Schwannoma: fine structural and immunohistochemical study. Ultrastruct Pathol 11:19–28, 1987.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Becker DH, Wilson CB. Symptomatic parasellar granular cell tumors. Neurosurgery 8:173–180, 1981.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bedetti CD, Martinez AJ, Beckford NS, May M. Granular cell tumor arising in myelinated peripheral nerves. Light and electron microscopy and immunoperoxidase study. Virchow Arch [A] 402:175–183, 1983.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Buley ID, Gatter KC, Kelly PMA, Heryet A, Millard PR. Granular cell tumours revisited. An immunohistological and ultrastructural study. Histopathology 12:263–274, 1988.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dickson DW, Suzuki Kl, Kanner R, Weitz S, Horoupian DS. Cerebral granular cell tumor: immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 45:304–314, 1986.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Garancis JC, Komorowski RA, Kuzma JF. Granular cell myoblastoma. Cancer 25:542–550, 1970.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lack EE, Worsham GF, Callihan MD, Crawford BE, Klappenbach S, Rowden G, Chun B. Granular cell tumor: a clinicopathological study of 110 patients. J Surg Oncol 13:301–316, 1980.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Landolt AM. Ultrastructure of human sella tumors: correlations of clinical findings and morphology. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 22 (suppl):l-167, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Liss L. The cellular elements of the human neurohypophysis: a study with silver-carbonate. J Comp Neurol 106:507–513, 1956.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Liss L, Kahn EA. Pituicytoma. Tumor of the sella turcica: a clinicopathologic study.J Neurosurg 15:481–488, 1958.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Luse SA, Kernohan JW. Granular-cell tumors of the stalk and posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Cancer 8:616–622, 1955.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Mazur MT, Schultz JJ, Myers JL. Granular cell tumor: immunohistochemical analysis of 21 benign tumors and one malignant tumor. Arch Pathol Lab Med 114:692–696, 1990.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nathrath WBJ, Remberger K. Immunohistochemical study of granular cell tumours: demonstration of neurone specific enolase, S 100 protein, laminin and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin. Virchows Arch [A] 408: 421–434, 1986.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Nishioka H, Ii K, Llena JF, Hirano A. Immunohistochemical study of granular cell tumors of the neurohypophysis. Virchows Archiv [13] 60:413–417, 1991.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ordonez NG, Batsakis JG. Comparison of Ulex europaeus I lectin and factor VIII-related antigen in vascular lesions. Arch Pathol Lab Med 108:129–132, 1984.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Popovitch ER, Sutton CH, Becker NH, Zimmerman HM. Fine structure and histochemical studies of choristomas of the neurohypophysis: comparison with “granular cell myoblastoma” (abstract). J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 29: 155–156, 1957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Regezi JA, Zarbo RJ, Courtney RM, Crissman JD. Immunoactivity of granular cell lesions of skin, mucosa and jaw. Cancer 64:1455–1460, 1989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Russell DS, Rubinstein LJ. Tumours of the neurohypophysis. In: Pathology of the tumours of the nervous systems. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1989:376–380.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Scheithauer, BW. Pathology of the pituitary and sellar region: exclusive of pituitary adenoma. In: Sommers SC, Rosen PP, Fechner RE, eds. Pathology annual. Part 1. Norwalk, CT: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1985:67–155.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Schwechhcimer K, Möller P, Schnabel P, Waldherr R. Emphasis on peanut lectin as a marker for granular cells. Virchows Arch [A] 399:289–297, 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Shanklin WM. On the origin of tumorettes in the human neurohypophysis. Anat Rec 99:297–327, 1947.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sobel HJ, Marquet E, Schwarz R. Is Schwannoma related to granular cell myoblastoma? Arch Pathol 95:396–401, 1973.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Takei Y, Seyama S, Pearl GS, Tindall GT. Ultrastructural study of the human neurohypophysis. II. Cellular elements of neural parenchyma, the pituicytes. Cell Tissue Res 205:273–287, 1980.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Ulrich J, Hcitz PhU, Fischer T, Obnst E, Gullotta F. Granular cell tumors: evidence for heterogenous tumor cell differentiation: an immunocytochemical study. Virchows Arch [B] 53:52–57, 1987.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Medical College, 6-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, 160, Tokyo, Japan

    Hiroshi Nishioka

Authors
  1. Hiroshi Nishioka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nishioka, H. Immunohistochemical study of granular cell tumors and granular pituicytes of the neurohypophysis. Endocr Pathol 4, 140–145 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02915302

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02915302

Keywords

Search

Navigation