A case of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 1; the immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies of its tumors and the analysis of hormones in tumor extracts.

We reported a case of sporadic multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, with multiple insulinoma, parathyroid adenoma, and pituitary tumor. Measurement of hormone contents and immunohistochemical studies of the pancreatic tumors showed that the tumors contained insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide. Furthermore, the concentrations of these hormones were different in each tumor. Insulin extracted from the pancreatic tumors analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography revealed no structural abnormalities. On the other hand, in gel filtration evaluation of the extract of the parathyroid adenoma, it was found that the tumor extract contained a macromolecular parathyroid hormone (molecular weight 20,000 to 25,000).