Age Related Changes in Human Prostate Gland: A Microscopic Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMProstate is considered to be a potentially active organ of the male reproductive tract. With increase in age, prostate undergoes hyperplasia, which is of clinical relevance. This study is aimed at looking into the microscopic changes of prostate, as age passes by. SETTINGS AND DESIGNThis study was done in Kottayam and Alappuzha Government Medical Colleges in Kerala. My study was an observational study done in Post-mortem specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe study included 65 human prostates, collected from the Forensic and Pathology Departments of Government Medical Colleges, Kottayam and Alappuzha. The collected specimen were categorised to different decades according to the age and a study of the pattern of the histological changes in different decades were done. Using light microscopy, the sequence of changes occurring in the glandular and stromal elements of prostate with respect to age were assessed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSFoetal prostate consists of rudimentary duct system embedded in fibromuscular stroma. Follicles begin to appear in the second decade of life. After 45 years, gland undergoes hyperplasia. Atrophic changes do occur after 60 years. This study also provides objective evidence to demonstrate that the prostate does not have a true capsule. Observations of the undertaken study indicates that age-wise changes do occur in the prostate gland and has a definite pattern of sequential changes with relation to the different periods of life.