Background. Interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are potent induces of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis and injection of PGE, IL‐1, or TNF decreases food intake in healthy animals, whereas the anorexigenic effects of injected IL‐1 and TNF are blocked by inhibitors of PG synthesis. It has been hypothesized that host secretion of IL‐1 and TNF contribute to tumor‐induced anorexia. This study was undertaken to determine whether administration of PG inhibitors alters food intake in anorectic rats implanted with Walker 256 carcinoma. Methods. Groups of six tumor‐bearing rats were implanted with slow‐release pellets containing ibuprofen, indomethacin, or acetylsalicylic acid. Food intake, tumor growth, and body temperature were monitored for 14 days and compared with control tumor‐bearing animals implanted with placebo pellets. Results. Tumor growth was associated with anorexia, fever, wieght loss, and increased leukocyte secretion of IL‐1 and TNF. Indomethacin and ibuprofen retarded tumor growth 30–40% and lowered body temperature compared with controls, but had no effect on food intake or body weight of tumor‐bearing animals. Conclusions. Prostaglandins do not mediate tumorinduced anorexia.

A comparison was made with the data of 62 cases of pituitary adenoma, evaluated pre- and postoperatively, including as well the results of immunohistochemical hormone examination (also for calcitonin). Prolactin was found in 18 of the 21 adenomas carrying the preoperative diagnosis of prolactinoma, whereas cells containing other hormones (growth hormone, LH, FSH, TSH, ACTH, β-endorphin), were only occasionally present. The growth hormone was strongly positive in the adenoma tissue in 16 of the 17 cases of acromegaly. 5 of these adenomas were accompanied by a marked hyperprolactinemia and also contained many prolactin cells. 6 of the 19 adenomas diagnosed as being ‘inactive’ contained hormone-positive cells, but only a very small number of cells. ACTH was found in 3 of the 4 pituitary adenomas of patients with Cushing’s disease. 2 of these were also positive for β-endorphin. The tissue of 1 gonadotrophic adenoma (with elevated FSH in serum) gave positive results with an anti-LH antiserum. Calcitonin was not found in any adenoma. The preoperative serum prolactin levels did not quantitatively correlate with the percentage of prolactin-positive cells.

No abstract

No abstract