Biomaterial Database

Morphometric evidence of sexual dimorphism in the ultrastructure of gonadotroph adenomas of the human pituitary. 1985

I C Murray, and D J McComb, and E Horvath, and K Kovacs

Gonadotroph adenomas resected from the pituitaries of 8 males and 8 females were studied by transmission electron microscopy and morphometry in order to establish whether they exhibit sexual dimorphism. Random photographs were taken and the following parameters compared: (1) cellular volume, (2) nuclear volume, (3) cytoplasmic to nuclear ratio, (4) volume density of endoplasmic reticulum, (5) volume density of Golgi bodies, (6) volume density of mitochondria, (7) volume density of secretory granules, (8) volume density of lysosomes, (9) diameter of secretory granules, (10) surface to volume ratio of secretory granules, (11) surface to volume ratio of Golgi bodies, (12) surface to volume ratio of nuclei, (13) surface to volume ratio of cells. The results showed that gonadotroph adenomas of males differed significantly from those of females in cell size, cell shape, and electron microscopic features of Golgi apparatus. It remains to be established whether differences in the morphology of non-neoplastic gonadotrophs of males and females can explain the development of morphologically distinct adenoma cells between the sexes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010911	Pituitary Neoplasms	Neoplasms which arise from or metastasize to the PITUITARY GLAND. The majority of pituitary neoplasms are adenomas, which are divided into non-secreting and secreting forms. Hormone producing forms are further classified by the type of hormone they secrete. Pituitary adenomas may also be characterized by their staining properties (see ADENOMA, BASOPHIL; ADENOMA, ACIDOPHIL; and ADENOMA, CHROMOPHOBE). Pituitary tumors may compress adjacent structures, including the HYPOTHALAMUS, several CRANIAL NERVES, and the OPTIC CHIASM. Chiasmal compression may result in bitemporal HEMIANOPSIA.	Pituitary Cancer,Cancer of Pituitary,Cancer of the Pituitary,Pituitary Adenoma,Pituitary Carcinoma,Pituitary Tumors,Adenoma, Pituitary,Adenomas, Pituitary,Cancer, Pituitary,Cancers, Pituitary,Carcinoma, Pituitary,Carcinomas, Pituitary,Neoplasm, Pituitary,Neoplasms, Pituitary,Pituitary Adenomas,Pituitary Cancers,Pituitary Carcinomas,Pituitary Neoplasm,Pituitary Tumor,Tumor, Pituitary,Tumors, Pituitary
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000236	Adenoma	A benign epithelial tumor with a glandular organization.	Adenoma, Basal Cell,Adenoma, Follicular,Adenoma, Microcystic,Adenoma, Monomorphic,Adenoma, Papillary,Adenoma, Trabecular,Adenomas,Adenomas, Basal Cell,Adenomas, Follicular,Adenomas, Microcystic,Adenomas, Monomorphic,Adenomas, Papillary,Adenomas, Trabecular,Basal Cell Adenoma,Basal Cell Adenomas,Follicular Adenoma,Follicular Adenomas,Microcystic Adenoma,Microcystic Adenomas,Monomorphic Adenoma,Monomorphic Adenomas,Papillary Adenoma,Papillary Adenomas,Trabecular Adenoma,Trabecular Adenomas
D012727	Sex Characteristics	Those characteristics that distinguish one SEX from the other. The primary sex characteristics are the OVARIES and TESTES and their related hormones. Secondary sex characteristics are those which are masculine or feminine but not directly related to reproduction.	Gender Characteristics,Gender Differences,Gender Dimorphism,Sex Differences,Sex Dimorphism,Sexual Dichromatism,Sexual Dimorphism,Characteristic, Gender,Characteristic, Sex,Dichromatism, Sexual,Dichromatisms, Sexual,Difference, Sex,Dimorphism, Gender,Dimorphism, Sex,Dimorphism, Sexual,Gender Characteristic,Gender Difference,Gender Dimorphisms,Sex Characteristic,Sex Difference,Sex Dimorphisms,Sexual Dichromatisms,Sexual Dimorphisms