title: Age-dependency and regional distribution of enkephalinergic nerves in human prostate.
abstract: The regional distribution of peptidergic nerves in the juvenile and adult human prostate has been studied immunohistochemically using highly specific polyclonal antibodies. Nerves displaying immunoreactivity of Met-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin, heptapeptide and octapeptide were detected in the dorsolateral stroma closely related to smooth muscle predominantly of juvenile glands. A less strong immunoreactivity was present around stromal vessels and periurethral. Subepithelial peri-acinar nerves showing Leu-enkephalin, Met-enkephalin, octa- and heptapeptide immunoreactivity were found in a few instances. The most prominent immunoreaction was achieved with octapeptide antiserum, followed in decreasing order by Met-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin and heptapeptide. Their density decreased with age. Antisera against beta-endorphin, alpha-neoendorphin, beta-neoendorphin and dynorphin A gave to positive immunoreaction with prostatic nerves. The regional distribution pattern described is in favor of a postsynaptic peptidergic sympathetic innervation of prostatic stroma acting with classical neurotransmitters.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Urologie der Städtischen Kliniken Kassel, BRD.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jungblut
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aumüller
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malek
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Melchior
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000032:analysis*; D011467:Prostate / Q000294:innervation*
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins