Religious Apparitions and the Cold War in Southern Europe

Abstract

An ovarian strumal carcinoid which synthesized peptide hormones, but did not induce the carcinoid syndrome, was analysed histochemically, immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally. Dot-immunobinding assays were performed in order to determine the endocrine gene expression. The amylase resistant colloid was found to be PAS-positive in the follicular portions of the tumour. Carcinoid cells showed Grimelius positive argyophilic granules in the subnuclear position. The Fontana-Masson argentaffin reaction was negative. Immunohistochemistry for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) revealed strong reactivity in the follicular areas of the carcinoid. The immunoreactivity for somatotropic release inhibiting factor (SRIF) was found positive in the trabecular portion of the carcinoid tumour, thyroglobulin in the follicles. Neuron-specific enolase, protein S-100 A/B, synaptophysin and chromogranin A evoked weak cytoplasmic immunostaining of the tumor cells. Dot-immunobinding assays substantiated these immunohistochemical results, except for the thermolabile protein S-100 A/B. Electron microscopy of tumor cells showed numerous electron-dense cytoplasmic granules, 250 to 350 nm in diameter, both in follicular and trabecular areas of the tumor. Plasma levels of tumor-associated ACTH, SRIF and thyroglobulin were measured by radioimmunoassay and were found to be within the normal range.