ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The immunohistochemical localisation of somatostatin receptors 1, 2, 3, and 5 in acoustic neuromas

N D Stafford¹, L T Condon¹, M J C Rogers¹, L Helboe², D A Crooks³, S L Atkin⁴

¹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Anlaby Road, Hull HU3 2JZ, UK
² Department of Neurobiology, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 7, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark
³ Department of Neuropathology, Hull Royal Infirmary
⁴ Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Michael White Diabetes Centre, Hull Royal Infirmary

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor N D Stafford
Postgraduate Medical Institute, Cohen Building, Room 267, The University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK; N.D.Stafford{at}hull.ac.uk

Aims: Acoustic neuroma is a benign tumour, which develops through an overproliferation of Schwann cells along the vestibular nerve. Somatostatin is a naturally occurring peptide, which exerts antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects via five membrane bound receptor subtypes. The aim of this study was to determine whether somatostatin receptor subtypes (SSTRs) 1, 2, 3, and 5 are present in acoustic neuromas.

Methods: The expression of SSTRs 1, 2, 3, and 5 was studied in both the Schwann cells and blood vessels of eight acoustic neuroma specimens, by means of immunohistochemistry using novel rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against human SSTR 1, 2, and 5 subtype specific peptides, and a commercial anti-SSTR3 antibody.

Results: SSTR2 was the most prevalent subtype in Schwann cells (seven of eight), with intermediate expression of SSTR3 (six of eight), and lower expression of SSTRs 1 and 5 (four of eight and five of eight, respectively). There was ubiquitous vascular expression of SSTR2, with no evidence of SSTR 1, 3, or 5 expression in blood vessels.

Conclusion: SSTRs 1, 2, 3, and 5 are differentially expressed in acoustic neuromas. Somatostatin analogues may have a therapeutic role in the management of this rare and challenging condition.

Keywords: somatostatin; somatostatin receptors; acoustic neuroma; immunohistochemistry

Abbreviations: BSA, bovine serum albumin; HRP-StrepABC, horseradish peroxidase conjugated streptavidin–biotin complex; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; SRIF, somatotroph release inhibiting factor; SSTR, somatostatin receptor

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