Histology - Prostate Gland

Prostate Gland

Capsule

Fibroelastic connective tissue and smooth muscle.
Capsule is continuous with the central stroma.

Central stroma

Gives rise to septa that divide the prostate tissue into lobules.

Tuboloalveolar glands

Acini lined by pseudostratified epithelial lining.

– The secretory cells, as their name implies, secrete a white serous fluid that contains substances, including PSA, that facilitate semen liquefaction. At a higher magnification, the prominent Golgi complex and abundant secretory vesicles are visible. – In acini, may see a corpora amylacea (aka, prostatic concretion), which is a lamellated mass of accumulated secretions. These deposits occur more frequently with age, and may become calcified.

Stroma

Surrounds glands, comprises collagen and smooth muscle fibers.

Zones of the prostate:

Fibromuscular zone = anterior.
Transitional zone surrounds the prostatic urethra, into which the glands drain.
Central zone surrounds the ejaculatory ducts.
Peripheral zone includes the rest of the prostate gland.
Zones have clinical relevance:

– The transitional zone is most susceptible to benign prostatic hyperplasia, whereas the peripheral zone is most susceptible to inflammation and prostatic adenocarcinomas. – Elevated plasma prostate-specific antigen, which is produced by the secretory cells of the peripheral zone, is indicative of adenocarcinoma; surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy are used to treat).

Be aware of intertextual variation in prostate zoning, and that, because of its shape, sections from different levels and perspectives will show more or less of these zones.

Images:

Histology (Mark Braun, MD, & Indiana University: http://medsci.indiana.edu/c602web/602/c602web/toc.htm; http://www.indiana.edu/~anat215/virtualscope2/start.htm)

Histology - Prostate Gland

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