Stereological Estimate of the Length of Microvessels and the Number, Proliferation and Apoptosis of Endothelial Cells in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Abnormal angiogenesis is a critical feature of many diseases, including cancers and their precursors. Although the association between prostate carcinogenesis and changes in microvascular architecture is well known, these changes are not well-documented from a quantitative point of view. The present work deals with stereological estimates of the number of quiescent and proliferative endothelial cells, and microvessel length in normal and prostate cancer tissues. Unbiased stereological measurements of numerical densities of proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostained cells, nonproliferating endothelial cells, caspase 3 immunoreactive endothelial cells, and relative length (length density) of microvessels, were performed in control and cancer specimens. There were no changes in either proliferation or apoptosis in carcinoma endothelial cells. A decrease of endothelial cell density, together with an increase of microvessel length density, were detected in prostate cancer specimens. Therefore, the following conclusions can be drawn: a) The increase of angiogenetic activity in prostate carcinogenesis leads to an increment of the microvascular length; b) The amount of endothelial cells per vascular length decreases in prostate cancer; c) There is no decrease of endothelial apoptosis in cancer microvessels. d) The increase of the length density of microvessels in prostate cancer is not directly associated to an enhancement of the endothelial proliferation; and e) The blood supply of epithelium was similar in both cancerous and normal prostate.

Study of the distribution of microvessels in normal and pathologic prostate using an information-based similarity analysis

“…As has been ascertained in other studies (Santamaría et al ., 2009), no remarkable qualitative differences among immunostained prostate microvessels (normal and pathologic) were detected in this work. Several authors, however, indicate rather subtle changes in the histology of prostate cancer capillaries in comparison with normal ones: for instance, capillaries in prostate cancer have a wider lumen than in normal tissue and the highest proportion of microvessels near to the epithelium (touching capillaries) is seen in normal prostate (Montironi et al ., 1996).…”

“…Nevertheless, all these changes are difficult to evaluate to obtain clear differences between normal and tumour prostate microvessels. From a quantitative point of view, significant changes have been found in relation to an increasing microvessel length for tumour capillaries in comparison with normal ones (Santamaría et al ., 2009). However, when the space series from CTR, BPH and Ca were compared, no relevant differences were detected.…”

Expression of Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor 1 and Relation with Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Angiogenesis on Preneoplastic Changes Induced by Cadmium Chloride in the Rat Ventral Prostate

“…The Factor VIII vascular profiles immunostained to be eligible for counting were those sampled by the dissector frame and fulfilling the Sterio rule [30]. The L V MV was a calculated by the formula: L V  = (2×_Q-)/_A, where Q- = number of immunopositive vascular profiles and _A = total area sampled, that is, area of dissector frame (1482 µm2) multiplied by the number of selected frames [31]. These measurements were performed using the CAST-GRID program (Stereology Software Package, Silkeborg, Denmark).…”

Aplicación de técnicas estereológicas para la cuantificación del tejido adiposo

“…Dado que las estructuras vasculares son elementos lineales anisotrópicos, y que la estimación de su longitud puede verse fuertemente influida por su orientación en el espacio, las piezas de tejido adiposo a evaluar se deben seccionar siguiendo un protocolo de muestreo aleatorio isotrópico y uniforme (isotropic uniform random: IUR) (8), para asegurar un encuentro isotrópico entre el tejido y la sonda para la estimación de la longitud de los microvasos (9,18). El protocolo de realización de secciones IUR se esquematiza en la Fig.…”

“…El atributo estereológico más importante de estas estructuras lineales es la densidad de longitud (LV). Sobre secciones IUR, se evaluará la LV de los microvasos del tejido graso, es decir la longitud microvascular por unidad de volumen de tejido adiposo (5,18). Como espacio de referencia para esta estimación se emplea el estroma conectivo.…”