Ultrastructural and stereological study of the normal human prostate and of benign prostatic hyperplasia

ABSTRACT

Normal and benign hyperplastic prostatic tissue was [B.P.H.] studied by quantitative and qualitative methods. Stereological techniques together with electron microscopic examination were employed to investigate the stromal and glandular components of the normal human prostate and of B.P.H. Studies on the relative volumetric amount of the 2 major components of the prostate reveal an significant increase in the volume density [Vv] of the stromal part and significant decrease in the Vv of the glandular of the B.P.H, compared to that of the normal prostate. Regarding the fine structure of the smooth muscle cells of the stromal tissue, there is an increase in the organelles in the B.P.H. compared to that of the normal prostate indicating an activation of these cells. However, in B.P.H., the glandular cells seem to be reduced in height and the amount of secretory droplets diminishes, whereas the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and mitochondria do not differ from the normal human prostate. The stereological measurements obtained in this study jointly with the ultrastructural findings have revealed that the human B.P.H. is an a primarily disease of the stromal portion of the prostate