The endocrine component of prostatic carcinomas, mixed adenocarcinoma-carcinoid tumours and non-tumour prostate. Histochemical and ultrastructural identification of the endocrine cells.
Two types of endocrine-paracrine (EP) cells have been detected histochemically and ultrastructurally in normal and hyperplastic prostates; i.e. type I cells resembling intestinal EC (enterochromaffin) cells and type 2 cells similar to urethral EP cells previously reported by Casanova et al. (1974). About one-third of the 40 prostatic carcinomas studied contained EP cells: two of these were composite tumours exhibiting both adenocarcinomatous and carcinoid patterns. These four tumours have also been studied histochemically and ultrastructurally. ACTH and beta-endorphin immunoreactive cells, ultrastructurally resembling pituitary corticotrophic cells, have been identified in three tumours. Cells identical with type I and type 2 cells of the normal prostate were detected in two cases and in a further case, respectively.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure