Are neuroendocrine cells responsible for the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia?
OBJECTIVE
To examine the possible relationship between the distribution of neuroendocrine (NE) cells and the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in the human prostate, we performed an NE cells-distribution analysis and made morphological observations of acinous structures in different-aged prostates.


METHODS
Forty-three human prostates obtained from surgical and autopsy cases aged from 2 months to 86 years were examined immunohistochemically using Chromogranin A and analyzed with special reference to the development of BPH.


RESULTS
NE cells were distributed predominantly in the verumontanum and main prostatic ducts and were fewer in number in the terminal acini. As BPH development progressed, the NE cells were greatly diminished in number or completely lost from most adenoma nodules.


CONCLUSIONS
The NE cells of the prostate may be distributed and transported from the periurethral region near the verumontanum to the terminal acini during the development of the acinar structures. The distribution pattern is relatively consistent among prostates of all ages. However, NE cells do not appear in acquired tissue within BPH nodules as the nodules develop. Thus, the distribution of NE cells does not seem to be related to the development of BPH.
Islam
Manjurul A H M
MA
Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1, Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Japan.
Kato
Haruaki
H
Hayama
Masayoshi
M
Kobayashi
Shinya
S
Igawa
Yasuhiko
Y
Ota
Hiroyoshi
H
Nishizawa
Osamu
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins