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Vet Pathol 45:383-387 (2008)
© 2008 American College of Veterinary Pathologists
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS AND CASE REPORTS

A Novel Immunohistochemical Marker of Normal and Neoplastic Melanocytes in Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Tissues of Albino Rats

T. Kurotaki, Y. Tomonari, T. Kanno, Y. Wako and M. Tsuchitani

Pathology Division, Kashima Laboratory, Mitsubishi Chemical Safety Institute Ltd., Kamisu-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 314-0255, Japan

Abstract

In albino rats, spontaneous occurrence of melanocytic tumors is rare, with diagnosis difficult. This study evaluated immunoreactivity for PNL2 in normal and neoplastic melanocytes in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of albino rats. The samples consisted of 11 (1.57%) amelanotic melanomas in 700 rats (2 studies), 23 non-melanocytic tumors, and a wide variety of normal tissues. In normal albino rats, PNL2 stained the melanocytes in the iris and choroid of the eyeball and the hair bulb and basal cell layers of the epidermis of the whole body. In amelanotic melanoma, the tumor cells consisted of spindle cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm without melanin granules. PNL2 consistently stained cytoplasm in all amelanotic melanoma cells. In contrast, the nonmelanocytic tumor cells were not labeled. Electron microscopically, neoplastic, and normal melanocytes showed numerous cytoplasmic premelanosomes (stage II melanosome). In conclusion, PNL2 is direct against a fixative- and decalcific-resistant melanocyte-associated antigen, and has high specificity against normal and neoplastic melanocytes of albino rats.

Key words: Albino rats; amelanotic melanoma; electron microscopy; immunohistochemistry; melanocytes; PNL2 immunoreactivity; premelanosome.

Request reprints from Dr. T. Kurotaki, Pathology Division, Kashima Laboratory, Mitsubishi Chemical Safety Institute Ltd., 14 Sunayama, Kamisu-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 314-0255 (Japan). E-mail: kurotaki{at}ankaken.co.jp






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