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Measurement of catecholamines, met-enkephalin, somatostatin and substance P-like immunoreactivities in 12 human pheochromocytomas

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Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the simultaneous presence of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), met-enkephalin (ME)-, somatostatin (SRIF)- and substance P (SP)- like immunoreactivities (LI) in extracts of 12 pheochromocytomas obtained at the time of surgery from 10 patients. Moreover, catecholamines and ME-LI levels were measured in peripheral plasma of each patient. Each pheochromocytoma was characterized by a high variability of ME-LI, SRIF-LI, SP-LI, E and NE levels. The highest E concentrations were found in tumors from patients with Multiple Endocrine Adenomatosis (MEA) IIa syndrome, whereas in sporadic pheochromocytomas NE was the main catecholamine. Among the neuropeptides ME-LI showed the highest intratumoral concentration, and SP-LI the lowest. No correlations were found between intratumoral levels of catecholamines and any of the neuropeptides or between any of the different neuropeptides measured. Plasma catecholamine levels were not correlated with intratumoral catecholamine levels. Plasma ME-LI was higher than normal in only one patient. No correlation was observed between tumoral CA or peptide content and the clinical picture. Our study confirms that human pheochromocytoma cells can synthetize different neuropeptides. The variability of the clinical picture very likely depends on the biochemical and biological heterogeneity of this chromaffin tumor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Clinical Physiopathology, Endocrinology Unit, Università di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 85, 50134, Firenze, Italy

    E. Baldi, M. L. De Feo, M. Maggi, C. Pupilli &  M. Mannelli

  2. Institute of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Firenze, 50134, Firenze, Italy

    P. Geppetti & M. G. Spillantini

  3. Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Firenze, 50134, Firenze, Italy

    V. Carlà

  4. Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Firenze, 50134, Firenze, Italy

    A. Brocchi

Authors
  1. E. Baldi
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  2. M. L. De Feo
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  3. P. Geppetti
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  4. V. Carlà
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  5. M. Maggi
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  6. C. Pupilli
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  7. M. G. Spillantini
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  8. A. Brocchi
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  9. M. Mannelli
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Baldi, E., De Feo, M.L., Geppetti, P. et al. Measurement of catecholamines, met-enkephalin, somatostatin and substance P-like immunoreactivities in 12 human pheochromocytomas. J Endocrinol Invest 11, 133–138 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03350121

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03350121

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