The histochemical localization of acid phosphatase in human fetal urethral and prostatic epithelium.
Acid phosphatase activity was studied with light and electron microscopic histochemical techniques in the epithelium of the urogenital system of human fetuses 7 to 13 weeks of age. Acid phosphatase activity was present throughout the period in the epithelium of the urogenital sinus except in the posterior  part near the openings of the mesonephric and paramesonephric ducts; these ducts showed very little or no activity. The prostatic epithelium appearing in the 10th week showed lysosomal acid phosphatase activity and a few of its cells showed acid phosphatase-positive apical granules suggesting the appearance of secretory acid phosphatase. The finding that the acid phosphatase activity of the urethral epithelium on colliculus seminalis differs from that elsewhere may indicate a different origin or a different response to maternal or fetal hormones.
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011467:Prostate / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014521:Urethra / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000135:Acid Phosphatase