Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent disease but its molecular mechanism remains unknown. Using human tissue samples from 16 patients diagnosed with BPH, we performed an ultrastructural study to clarify the mechanism and the role of glandular cells in this pathology. We have made a description of all the changes that suffers the prostatic epithelium. We have shown that the glandular architecture presents many non-physiological forms such as papillae and papillary fronds. Basal cells present a prominent nucleolus, cytoplasmic projections through the basal memebrane, with caveolae along them. On the other hand, we have found in luminal cell abundant lysosomal-like granules, lipofuscin and myelinoid bodies in the cytoplasm. Another notable finding is the presence of mast cells surrounding the pathologic glands very close to the basal membrane. Some ultrastructural findings have been reported in induced prostatic hyperplasia in the dog.