title: Regional distribution of neuroendocrine cells in the urogenital duct system of the male rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuroendocrine (NE) cells are frequently present in the human prostate and urethra, whereas they are lacking in the other urogenital organs. This study was undertaken as there are only few detailed studies available on the distribution, form and function of NE cells and the structure of excretory ducts of the accessory sex organs in the male rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic gross anatomical dissections were combined with immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies of the excretory ducts of the urogenital glands in male rats, with particular focus on the distribution and ultrastructure of the NE cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The topography and structure of the excretory ducts of the different glands were characterized in detail and analyzed for the distribution of NE cells. These are present (in falling frequencies) in the ducts of seminal vesicles and ventral and lateral prostate and are rare in ducts of coagulating gland, dorsal prostate, urethral epithelium, and excretory ducts of the (bulbo) urethral glands. They are absent in the respective glands proper, the deferent duct and ejaculatory ampulla. Approximately 40% of the NE cells of the ventral prostate ducts are of the "open" type, whereas these are less frequent (14%) in the seminal vesicle ducts, where the "closed" type prevails.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NE cells are present in unequal quantities in the excretory ducts of the accessory sex glands, but they are absent in the glands proper and the deferent ducts. This distribution pattern points to a strictly localized function and differentiation potency of NE precursor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aumüller
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doll
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wennemuth
authors.forename: Nishtman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dizeyi
authors.forename: Per-Anders
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Abrahamsson
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002030:Bulbourethral Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004543:Ejaculatory Ducts / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D055099:Neuroendocrine Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014521:Urethra / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure