Neuroanatomy of the normal prostate.
BACKGROUND
The prostate is a richly innervated organ, but its neuroanatomy has not been thoroughly mapped and analyzed quantitatively.


METHODS
We selected prostates from autopsy cases of cancer-free patients aging from their 40's to 70's, and histologic sections were immunostained with S-100. Nerve density hotspots were mapped, photographed, and analyzed for nerve area.


RESULTS
Innervation of the peripheral zone was found to be significantly greater than the transition zone (P < 0.0006), which is in turn significantly more innervated than BPH (P < 0.007). The posterior capsule has significantly more nerve area than the anterior capsule (P < 0.0001). Highest innervation was seen in the neurovascular bundles and seminal vesicles, with the lowest in transition zone and BPH. When compared to increasing patient age, both peripheral zone and overall innervation tended to decrease.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are quantitative in nature, performed in cancer-free patients ranging over four different decades of age. We plan to soon compare this profile with our developing profile of cancerous prostates, hoping to learn more about interactions between nerves and prostate cancer.
Powell
Michael S
MS
Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Li
Rile
R
Dai
Hong
H
Sayeeduddin
Mohammed
M
Wheeler
Thomas M
TM
Ayala
Gustavo E
GE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009445:Neuroanatomy; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis
D009418:S100 Proteins; D002802:Cholinesterases