Enzyme-immunoassay for estrogen receptors in human pituitary adenomas

We have performed an enzyme-immunoassay for estrogen receptor on 56 human pituitary adenomas and compared the results with a single point estradiol binding assay. There was a significant positive correlation between the two assays of cytoplasmic estrogen receptor (r = 0.960). Normal human pituitaries (N = 2) had an estrogen receptor concentration of 17 fmol/mg protein by enzyme-immunoassay. Of 14 prolactinomas, 6 (43%) contained estrogen receptor with a concentration of 33.5 +/- 7.4 (mean +/- SEM) fmol/mg protein. Six of 11 (55%) macroprolactinomas were estrogen receptor-positive, whereas all 3 microprolactinomas were estrogen receptor-negative. Only one (13%) of 8 GH- and PRL-secreting adenomas, and 3 of 6 (50%) gonadotropin-secreting adenomas were estrogen receptor-positive; the latter had a concentration of 13.5 +/- 1.6 fmol/mg protein. Estrogen receptor was not detected in 21 pure GH-secreting adenomas and 7 nonsecreting adenomas. These results demonstrate the precise frequency of estrogen receptor in various human pituitary adenomas, since enzyme-immunoassay as well as single point estradiol binding assay could detect estrogen receptor even in small specimens. Enzyme-immunoassay is suitable for evaluation of estrogen receptor status in human pituitary adenomas.