title: The endocrine-paracrine cells of von Brunn's nests and glandular metaplasia in the supramontanal prostatic urethra.
abstract: Endocrine-paracrine (EP) cells are normal cellular constituents of the human genitourinary tract. We examined the distribution and immunostaining profile of EP cells in von Brunn's nests and glandular metaplasia in the supramontanal (proximal) prostatic urethra of adult males and in prostatic ducts of the male fetal urethra. In 15/17 transurethral prostatic resection specimens there were argyrophilic cells and/or serotonin and neuronspecific enolase containing cells in von Brunn's nests/glandular metaplasia and in the supramontanal prostatic urethra. All seven fetal specimens examined contained EP cells and five had focal calcitonin immunoreactivity in prostatic ducts and ductal buds. One adult resection specimen had focal staining for human chorionic gonadotrophin and no case showed staining for somatostatin. These results further support the contention that von Brunn's nests and glandular metaplasia are probably normal urothelial variants in the adult supramontanal prostatic urethra.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiernan
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Gaffney
mesh_terms: D002116:Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014521:Urethra / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D002116:Calcitonin; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase