muramidase and Cystadenocarcinoma

Forty-five cases of mucinous tumors of the ovary were studied for argyrophilia. Argyrophil cells were identified in seven of the 22 cystadenomas (32%), five of the 11 borderline tumors (45%), and two of the 12 carcinomas (17%). These 14 tumors and two additional mucinous tumors known to contain argyrophil cells were studied further by immunohistochemical methods for the localization of calcitonin, gastrin, somatostatin, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), serotonin, neurotensin, and lysozyme. Serotonin immuno-reactivity was identified in 15 of the 16 cases. Among the peptide hormones, there was a high frequency of positivity for ACTH, gastrin, and somatostatin. Despite the demonstration of reactivity for these hormones, there was no clinical evidence of syndromes of hormone excess in the patients. Lysozyme was present in all but one of the benign and borderline tumors, but was not identified in the carcinomas. Lysozyme was also found in normal and neoplastic gastric and endocervical epithelium, indicating that its presence is not useful in differentiating gastrointestinal and müllerian-type epithelium. The results of this study confirm the previously recognized intestinal characteristics of the epithelium of many mucinous tumors, but also raise the question whether the simple, uniformly mucinous epithelium that is most common within these tumors and is generally regarded as endocervical in type may occasionally be gastric in nature.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Calcitonin; Cystadenocarcinoma; Cystadenoma; Endothelium; Female; Gastrins; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Muramidase; Neurotensin; Ovarian Neoplasms; Serotonin; Silver; Somatostatin; Staining and Labeling

The presence of lysozyme in ovarian tumors has been detected for the first time using the immunoperoxidase technique. A study of the distribution of this enzyme in 50 primary ovarian neoplasms revealed its presence exclusively in mucinous and mixed (serous-mucinous) cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas. The secretion of lysozyme seems to be correlated to the production of strongly acidic mucins.

Topics: Cystadenocarcinoma; Cystadenoma; Cytoplasm; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Muramidase; Ovarian Neoplasms

Paneth cells occurring in intestinal and extraintestinal sites were studied using various light microscopic techniques, including standard hematoxylineosin (HE)-stained histologic sections; a number of histochemical reactions, including the phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin (PTAH) method; and immunohistochemical labeling for the presence of lysozyme using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method. Cells, identified on HE as Paneth cells, uniformly stained with PTAH and PAP-lysozyme. Further, all of the cases demonstrating epithelial cell lysozyme showed eosinophilic cytoplasmic granules, typical of Paneth cells, on HE sections. Lysozyme was demonstrated in benign and malignant ovarian tumors, as well as in a variety of ectopic intestinal sites and benign and malignant intestinal tumors, supporting the concept that the elaboration of lysozyme is a nonspecific feature of intestinal-cell differentiation and is not a response to a specific stimulus.

Topics: Cystadenocarcinoma; Cystadenoma; Cytoplasmic Granules; Digestive System; Female; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Muramidase; Ovarian Neoplasms; Rectum; Staining and Labeling; Teratoma

Lactoferrin and lysozyme, parts of the non-specific defense system, were studied in normal and diseased parotid glands, using the immunohistochemical PAP-method. 31 normal and inflamed glands were investigated. The presence of lactoferrin and lysozyme was demonstrated in the acinar cells and some duct cells. The amount of these substances was increased in obstructive parotitis. The 52 carcinomas showed a distinct distribution pattern for lactoferrin (positive cases: adenocarcinomas 5 of 8; cystadenocarcinoma: 3 of 5; adenoid cystic carcinomas 2 of 4; salivary duct carcinomas 2 of 3). Some of the carcinomas in pleomorphic adenomas were positive for lactoferrin. Squamous cell carcinomas and anaplastic carcinomas were constantly negative. All carcinomas were negative for lysozyme. These observations are discussed with respect to their physiological and pathological significance.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenoma, Pleomorphic; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cystadenocarcinoma; Humans; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Muramidase; Parotid Neoplasms; Parotitis