Immunohistochemical analysis of 61 pituitary adenomas with a monoclonal antibody to the neuron-specific beta-tubulin isotype.

Pituitary adenomas surgically resected from 61 consecutive patients and 9 normal pituitary glands were studied by immunohistochemistry to determine the localization of the class III beta-tubulin isotype(neuron-specific) which is recognized by the monoclonal antibody TUJ1. In normal pituitary glands only a few cells were weakly immunopositive for TUJ1, whereas, in 43(73%) of 61 adenomas, more than 5% of tumor cells were immunopositive. The result may indicate that this neuron-specific beta-tubulin isotype may be either expressed de novo or enhanced under the transformation of pituitary acinar cells to tumors.