Correlation between morphometric differences and norepinephrine content in benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract

Tissue norepinephrine (NE) content and quantitative morphometric analysis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were evaluated in 30 patients with symptomatic BPH. BPH specimens were obtained by transurethral resection, and NE content was evaluated by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The proportions of smooth muscle fibrous, and glandular elements were determined by the light microscopic stereological method. Norepinephrine content of the prostate correlated well with the proportion of smooth muscle component (r = 0.749, P < 0.0001). The percentage of fibrous tissue element was positively correlated with prostate size (r = 0.459, P = 0.0099). Norepinephrine content and histological components did not correlate with subjective symptom score. Morphometrical findings and NE content did not correlate with uroflowmetry parameters and postvoid residual urine rate. In conclusion, NE content of the prostate was probably determined by the amount of smooth muscle element in BPH tissue. The fibrous tissue element was increased in large hyperplastic tissue. The severity of BPH could not be explained by differences in histological composition alone. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Physical Activity and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

“…21 ␣ 1 -Adrenergic receptors are preferentially expressed in the prostate stroma, likely in smooth muscle cells, 22 and the ratio of prostatic stroma to epithelium is higher in men with symptomatic BPH. 23 Moreover, the amount of tissue norepinephrine correlates with the proportion of smooth muscle in prostatic tissue removed at transurethral resection in patients with symptomatic BPH, 24 hyperplastic prostatic smooth muscle appears to be more responsive than normal tissue to ␣ 1agonists, 25 and the proportion of smooth muscle is greater among men who respond to ␣-blockade. 26 Whether the systemic reduction in sympathetic nervous system activity with regular physical activity is also experienced locally in the prostate and, if so, whether the extent of the reduction in sympathetic nervous system activity that can be achieved with physical fitness is adequate to reduce prostatic tone remain to be explored.…”

Current models of human prostate contractility

“…[81][82][83][84][85] Whatever the variations in media formulation, the resultant cultured prostatic stroma is generally a collection of fibroblasts, myofibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, somewhat reminiscent of the prostatic tissue of (mostly) ageing males. 75 The relative proportion of these cell types in native human prostatic stroma is still debatable and the data linking BPH with an increase of individual tissue components is not clear; for example, the connective tissue mass in hyperplastic prostates has been shown to increase 86,87 or to remain static. 88 The reductionist approach to investigating human prostatic contractility/activity is the isolation and generation of 'pure' prostatic stroma.…”