Neuroendocrine markers in central nervous system neuronal tumors (gangliocytoma and ganglioglioma).

We studied five cases of central nervous system neuronal tumor, one gangliocytoma and four gangliogliomas, both ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically, using antibodies to neuroendocrine markers including tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), serotonin (5HT), somatostatin (SOM), met-enkephalin (MEK), leu-enkephalin (LEK), substance P (SP), gastrin, vasopressin, oxytocin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, adrenocorticotropic hormone and calcitonin. In all cases, the presence of dense-core vesicles (60-250 nm) in the neuronal elements was the characteristic ultrastructural finding. Synapses were observed in two cases. Immunohistochemically, variable numbers of neuronal cells showed positive staining for SOM in five cases, TH, MEK and LEK in three cases, and 5HT and SP in one case each. The others were negative. Positive immunoreactivity for multiple markers was shown in all cases. SOM, TH, 5HT and SP were present in the small- to medium-sized cells, while MEK and LEK were almost exclusively confined to the large cells. Our study clearly indicated that these tumors contained neuronal cells which were not homogeneous with regard to neuroendocrine markers.