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Neuroendocrine cells and nerves in the prostate of the guinea pig: Effects of peripheral denervation and castration
Author(s) -
Acosta Stefan,
Dizeyi Nishtman,
Pierzynowski Stefan,
Alm Per,
Abrahamsson PerAnders
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0045(20010215)46:3<191::aid-pros1023>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - castration , denervation , medicine , peripheral , prostate , guinea pig , pathology , endocrinology , hormone , cancer
Background Neuroendocrine (NE) cells and nerves in the prostate gland are thought to play a central role in the regulation of growth, cellular differentiation and homeostasis of secretory activity. The objective of this experimental study was to describe the effects of peripheral denervation and castration on NE cells and nerves in the guinea pig prostate. Methods Guinea pigs underwent sham‐operation, unilateral and bilateral hypogastric nerve resection, extirpation of the right anterior major pelvic ganglion (AMPG), autotransplantation of prostatic tissue and castration. Cryostat sections of prostatic tissue were examined with immunohistochemistry by using serotonin (5‐HT) and chromogranin A (CgA) and various neuropeptides. Results The number of 5‐HT‐IR NE cells was four‐fold higher than CgA‐IR NE cells. The innervation pattern was uniform throughout the gland with subepithelial nerves in close proximity to NE cells. Autotransplants of prostatic tissue showed total loss of nerves, but the number and morphology of 5‐HT‐IR NE cells were unaltered. Extirpation of the right AMPG showed significant reduction in prostate weight, decreased density of nerve terminals in the superior part of the ipsilateral prostate, whereas the number and morphological feature of 5‐HT‐IR NE cells remained unaffected in the entire prostate. Castration induced atrophy of the gland with a significant reduction in weight (unpaired t ‐test, P < 0.001), but without effect upon 5‐HT‐IR NE cells. Conclusions The guinea pig seems to be a useful animal model for studies on the role of the NE cells in the prostate. NE cells seem to be independent of innervation and androgens. It seems that other factors influence the NE cell population to a greater extent. Prostate 46:191–199, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.