Quantitative morphometry of the adult human bladder.
The primary objective of the present retrospective study was to characterize the effects of aging and BPH on bladder morphometry. Eighty-six bladder specimens were obtained from the autopsy archives of the Milwaukee County Medical Complex. The bladder specimens were divided into 4 groups based upon age and gender: Group I: males between the ages of 35-45 years; Group II: males between the ages of 65-75 years; Group III: females between the ages of 35-45 years; and Group IV: females between the ages of 65-75 years. The age groups were selected in order to identify a group of males with and without BPH. The area density of smooth muscle:connective tissue was determined in bladder specimens using color assisted computer image analysis. Masson-trichrome and double immunoenzymatic staining techniques were used to discriminate the smooth muscle and connective tissue elements of the bladder. The area density of smooth muscle:connective tissue in the Masson-trichrome stained sections was significantly greater in Group I vs. Group II (2.90 +/- 0.22 vs. 2.33 +/- 0.16) and in Group III vs. Group IV (2.85 +/- 0.13 vs. 2.03 +/- 0.20). Aging was associated with a decrease in the area density of smooth muscle:connective tissue ratio in both males and females. The area density of smooth muscle:connective tissue was not significantly different in younger males and females (Group I vs. Group III) and older males and females (Group II vs. Group IV). The present morphometric study suggests that aging and not BPH, is associated with a relative increase in detrusor fibrosis. Infravesical obstruction in BPH may effect bladder function via mechanisms unrelated to the histologic composition of the bladder.
Lepor
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Department of Urology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
Sunaryadi
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I
Hartanto
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Shapiro
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology