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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Imaging of Estrogen Receptor-α in Rat Pial Arterioles using a Digital Immunofluorescent Microscope
Published on: November 29, 2011
Estrogen receptors alpha and beta immunohistochemical expression: clinicopathological correlations in pituitary
B Manoranjan1, F Salehi, B W Scheithauer
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Aim:
We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptors alpha (ERalpha) and beta (ERbeta) in pituitary adenoma subtypes combined with clinicopathological factors.
Materials And Methods:
Pituitary adenomas (n=75) were immunostained for ERalpha and ERbeta using the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method with a monoclonal ERalpha antibody and polyclonal ERbeta antibody.
Results:
Nuclear immunoreactivity for both receptors was highest among PRL, FSH/LH, null cell, and GH adenomas. ACTH, silent subtypes I and II corticotrophs, and subtype III adenomas were the least immunoreactive for both receptors. ACTH adenomas expressed significantly less ERalpha than FSH-LH, GH, and null cell adenomas. A significantly elevated ERalpha expression was observed in macroadenomas compared to microadenomas and non-invasive compared to invasive tumors.
Conclusion:
ERalpha and ERbeta are differentially expressed in the various pituitary adenoma subtypes suggesting a cell-specific function for these receptors. To elucidate the role of ERalpha in tumor size and invasiveness, additional studies are required.
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