Immunoreactive prolactin in lesions and tumours of salivary glands

The prolactin binding in obstructive lesions and tumours of salivary glands was described by use of the immunohistochemical PAP technique. Normal salivary glands had prolactin binding cells in the striated ducts only. Chronic obstructive lesions of submandibular glands showed negative immunoreaction for prolactin binding in ductal cells, but positive staining of the luminal surface of ductal segments. In pleomorphic adenomas, occasional neoplastic cells located along the luminal borders of tubular, ductal, or of duct-like epithelial structures were strongly reactive with anti-prolactin and 26.5% of cases pleomorphic adenoma were positive for anti-prolactin. Adenoid cystic carcinoma exhibited positive prolactin binding on the luminal surface of some of tumour foci, but not in the rest of the tumour. Warthin's tumour was devoid of detectable prolactin binding.