Morphological and Functional Properties of Pituitary Adenomas in Culture

The correlation of morphological properties and hormone production of the pituitary adenoma cells were investigatde using cultured cells by means of scanning electon microscopic observation and radioimmunoassay of the hormones in the culture.1. Pituitary adenoma cells retainde hormone-secreting abilities in the culture.2. Two types of cells(25μ-30μ with granules,15μ-20μwithout granules) were recognized in the tissue cultures of non-functioning chromophobe adenomas.3. Almost all non-functioning chromophobe adenomas had abilities to secrete hormones (GH:1.0-310/ml,LH:13.5-2.9×10^3ng/ml) in the culture for 50-150 days.4.Concluding from 2.and 3.,the non-functioning adenoma is composed of multiple types of cells which are different from each other in morphological and functional properties.5.Secretory geanules were demonsteated in the culture cells from a patient of Nelson's syndrome by scanning electron microscopy.