Figure 3
From: Molecular Characterization of Growth Hormone-producing Tumors in the GC Rat Model of Acromegaly
Histological characterization of GC tumors.
(A) Hematoxylin/Eosin staining of 3-week-old GC tumor sections shows glandular regions composed of cells displaying typical endocrine cell morphology (inset) arranged in clusters. Areas of necrosis are observed (asterisks). (B) GC tumor cells arrange in clusters around blood vessels as shown by immunohistochemical staining for PECAM-1. Asterisks indicate areas of necrosis. (C) A few, scattered, apoptotic cells (arrowheads) are observed in GC tumors. GC tumors are composed exclusively of GH-producing cells (D). No prolactin (E) and ACTH (F) accumulation is observed in GC tumors. Robust expression of GH (G), prolactin (H) and ACTH (I) is found in normal rat pituitary. (J–O) Accumulation of cell adhesion proteins in GC tumors. Robust ß-catenin (J), N-cadherin (K) accumulation is observed in GC tumor cells. Almost no accumulation of E-Cadherin is observed in GC tumors cells (L). Robust accumulation of ß-catenin (M), N-cadherin (N) and E-cadherin (O) in normal rat pituitary. Perinuclear accumulation of keratin 18 in GC tumors (M) and normal rat pituitary (N).
