1. Pituitary Pars Intermedia adenoma in a horse.
- Author
-
Gordillo González, Daniel F., Esquinas Castillo, Paula C., and Doncel Díaz, Benjamín
- Subjects
- *
GLIAL fibrillary acidic protein , *PITUITARY tumors , *ADRENAL glands , *ADENOMA , *PITUITARY gland , *CUSHING'S syndrome , *SECRETORY granules , *ADENOMATOUS polyps , *HORSE training - Abstract
Background: pituitary gland tumors are common in geriatric horses and adenomas of the Pars Intermedia are the most frequent. Active adenomas secrete excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) causing equine Cushing’s disease. This neoplasia has not been described in horses in Colombia. Objective: to describe a pituitary adenoma of the Pars Intermedia in a horse. Anamnesis: a 32-year-old neutered male equine of the Silla Argentina breed located in Bogotá‚ Colombia was reported in distress‚ weak condition and pathological decubitus without response to stimulation. The animal was euthanized and sent for veterinary diagnosis. Necropsy findings: severe hirsutism‚ bilateral hyperplasia of the adrenal glands‚ and an enlarged pituitary gland that measured 2.0 × 2.8 × 3.0 cm in size and protruded into the sella turcica. The body of the pituitary gland was flattened when the base of the brain was subjected to tactile pressure. The cut surface of the pituitary gland was yellow and black in color with a nodule of 0.3 × 0.6 × 0.7 cm. Tissue samples from the pituitary and adrenal glands and the skin were collected. Histopathology: an adenoma originated in the Pars Intermedia of the pituitary gland was observed. Skin hormonal dermatosis was also observed. In addition‚ the adrenal glands showed bilateral diffuse hyperplasia of cortical cells arranged in nodules. Immunohistochemistry: ACTH‚ prolactin‚ neural specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were made on pituitary sections. ACTH was prominently detected and appeared as diffuse intracytoplasmic immunostaining in cells of the Pars intermedia. Prolactin‚ NSE and GFAP were negative. Electron microscopy: the adenoma was composed of round or polyhedral cells with intermediate filaments in moderate quantity. There were also reduced number of identifiable secretory granules and moderate accumulation of mitochondria with variable density. The ultrastructure identified adenoma cells with reduced granularity and secretory functions. Conclusion: a pituitary Pars Intermedia adenoma with associated clinical signs is described in a neutered horse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024