acid-phosphatase and Metaplasia

Although androgens have long been implicated in the development, regulation, and pathophysiology of the prostate, evidence suggests that estrogens may also affect these processes. Specifically, estrogens have been shown to influence the development of the fetal and neonatal rodent prostate and to induce a pathognomonic change, termed squamous metaplasia, in the developing and adult prostate. Studies have been inconclusive, however, as to whether estrogens enhance or restrain the growth of the gland. Although the fetal rodent prostate has been reported to contain both estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) and beta (ER-beta), there have been no reports as to whether either of the ER subtypes is expressed in the developing human prostate.. In the present study, we used a novel antibody, directed against a unique sequence in the F domain of ER-beta, and laser capture microdissection/reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to study the expression of the receptor in the fetal, neonatal, and prepubertal human prostate. Results were compared with the expression of ER-alpha, androgen receptor (AR), prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), high molecular weight cytokeratin (HMCK), and the proliferative marker Ki67.. For the first time, we report that ER-beta is the only estrogen receptor detected at the protein level in the morphologically normal developing human fetal prostate. By midgestation, strong immunostaining for ER-beta was detected in the nuclei of nearly 100% of epithelial and in the majority of stromal cells. This pattern of expression was evident in the fetal, neonatal, and early prepubertal prostate. However, by 11 years postnatal, staining for the receptor became restricted primarily to the basal epithelial and stromal compartments, a pattern analogous to that observed in the normal adult gland. ER-alpha mRNA was present in microdissected stroma of the fetal gland. Although ER-alpha was not immunodetected in any morphologically normal fetal epithelial or stromal cells, weak staining for the receptor, however, was found in some examples of squamous metaplasia, suggesting the role of alpha-subtype in this lesion. ER-alpha was clearly visualized immunohistochemically at 1 month of postnatal development where it was then localized exclusively in periacinar stromal nuclei, which suggests that it may exert paracrine influences on further prostatic glandular development. Interestingly, the expression of ER-beta early in prostatic development occurred coincident with both the increasing rate of epithelial cell proliferation, observed in the first half of gestation, and the reported high levels of estrogen in the gland from midgestation until term. Paradoxically, however, staining for the receptor remained intense, despite the dramatic decrease in Ki67 labeling observed in the second half of gestation.. Our results indicate that the effects of estrogens on the growth of the human fetal prostate are mediated primarily by ER-beta but that ER-alpha contributes to postnatal glandular development. Furthermore, these results suggest that ER-beta, possibly in concert with androgens, may mediate diverse effects on prostate epithelial proliferation by first promoting cell expansion early in gestation, and then acting to limit growth later in prostatic development.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Child; Estrogen Receptor alpha; Estrogen Receptor beta; Fetal Diseases; Gene Expression; Gestational Age; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Keratins; Ki-67 Antigen; Male; Metaplasia; Molecular Weight; Prostate; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; Receptors, Androgen; Receptors, Estrogen; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

The prostate gland normally secretes neutral mucosubstances that can be detected within the lumina of acini and ducts; adenocarcinomas often produce both acidic and neutral mucins, a feature that has been suggested to be of some diagnostic use. The presence of mucin-filled cells is not, however, a feature of the normal prostate. Over the last few years, we have observed tall, columnar, mucin-secreting cells in a variety of conditions in 12 benign prostates. All cases were stained histochemically for mucin with Mayers' mucicarmine, alcian blue (pH 2.7), and periodic-acid-Schiff with diastase digestion. In four cases, immunoperoxidase stains for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) were performed. Mucin-secreting cells were found in the foci of sclerotic atrophy (n = 5), transitional cell metaplasia (n = 3), basal cell hyperplasia (n = 2), prostatrophic hyperplasia (n = 1), and nodular hyperplasia (n = 1). In all examples, the cells stained intensely with PAS, mucicarmine, and alcian blue. The cells were nonreactive for PSA and PAP in the cases studied. To our knowledge, the presence of tall, columnar, mucin-secreting cells has not been previously described in atrophy or basal cell hyperplasia. These observations expand our appreciation of the histologies that may be seen in the prostate gland; in addition, the recognition of acidic mucin-secreting cells in benign lesions points to the nonspecificity of this finding in the diagnosis of malignancy.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Atrophy; Humans; Hyperplasia; Male; Metaplasia; Mucins; Prostate; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Prostatic Diseases

Six cases of urinary bladder mucosa with prostate-type epithelium were studied clinically, morphologically, and immunohistochemically. All patients were male with an average age of fifty-three years; most presented with painless hematuria. Histologically, two types of lesions were observed, the polypoid located in various sites of the bladder wall and the flat lesion found in the bladder neck. Both lesions shared in common a prostatic-type and transitional surface epithelium while prostatic-type glands were prominent in the polypoid lesion. The prostatic-type epithelium was confirmed immunohistochemically by detection of prostatic specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase. Based on specific findings we considered the metaplasia as the most reliable histogenetic aspect.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adult; Aged; Antigens, Neoplasm; Choristoma; Epithelium; Hematuria; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Metaplasia; Middle Aged; Prostate; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Cystitis cystica (CC) and cystitis glandularis (CG) are common in the urothelium lining the bladder neck and trigone. Because some cases of CG show histologic features strikingly similar to prostatic acini, we hypothesized that some such foci may represent prostatelike metaplasia in the urinary bladder. Forty surgical and autopsy bladder specimens (23 males, 17 females) showing CC or CG were studied using anti-prostate specific antigen and anti-prostate specific acid phosphatase antibodies. Fourteen (35%) of these 40 cases showed positive staining for prostate specific antigen or prostate specific acid phosphatase or both in CC or CG foci. Among these were five female patients. The findings indicate that bladder epithelium is capable of undergoing prostatelike metaplasia and lend support to the hypothesis that the adult bladder stroma closest to the prostate may exert inductive influences on the overlying epithelium to show prostatelike metaplasia.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antigens, Neoplasm; Autopsy; Biopsy; Cystitis; Epithelium; Female; Humans; Male; Metaplasia; Middle Aged; Prostate-Specific Antigen

The behaviour of keratins in the human prostate is investigated immunohistochemically by polyclonal rabbit antibodies against keratins from human stratum corneum (kit from ORTHO/Heidelberg) and compared to the behaviour of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). In normal glands and cribriform as well as adenomatous hyperplasia only basal cells contain keratin. The secretory epithelium is keratin-negative and in contrast to the basal cells PAP- as well as PSA-positive. In prostatic ducts and utriculus prostaticus keratin is demonstrable in basal cells and urothelium. As in normal glands, the light cylindric epithelium is keratin-negative and PAP- as well as PSA-positive. The cells in atrophic glands and postatrophic hyperplasia may contain keratin as well as PAP and PSA. Urothelial and squamous metaplasia are strongly keratin-positive. PAP and PSA are not found. The cylindric epithelium of the ejaculatory ducts contains keratin at many places. PAP and PSA are not demonstrable. The utriculus does not differ from normal prostatic glands immunohistochemically. This supports the view that the epithelium of the sinus urogenitalis is involved in the embryogenesis of normal prostatic glands and the utriculus as well. Urothelial and squamous metaplasia obviously arise from basal cells which share the same immunohistochemical features. Whether the cells in atrophic glands and postatrophic hyperplasia derive from basal cells or secretory epithelium cannot be decided. The keratin composition of the prostate should be further analyzed by keratin-specific monoclonal antibodies.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Antigens; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immunochemistry; Keratins; Male; Metaplasia; Prostate; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Prostatic Hyperplasia

The clinicohistologic features of seven urethral and four urinary bladder polyps with prostatic-type epithelium are described. The average age of the patients was 50 years. Seven patients had prior cystoscopies and in none of them was the lesion noted initially. Histologically the lesions were papillary or polypoid and the surface was lined predominantly by prostatic-type epithelium with interspersed transitional epithelial cells or by transitional epithelium with interspersed prostatic-type epithelial cells. The prostatic-type columnar cells contained foamy, faintly eosinophilic cytoplasm, which stained strongly for prostate specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase. In all the lesions, there were prostatic acini in the underlying fibrovascular stroma, which was devoid of smooth muscle. The intermingling of prostatic-type cells and transitional epithelium, on the surface of the polyps, the absence of lesions at previous cystoscopies, the coexistence of cystitis cystica glandularis (a metaplastic lesion), and the older age group of our patients suggest that the prostatic-type epithelium in the polyps of urethra and urinary bladder is an acquired lesion, most likely a metaplastic response of transitional epithelium, which embryologically was multipotential.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Antigens, Neoplasm; Cystitis; Epithelium; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Metaplasia; Middle Aged; Polyps; Prostate; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Urethra; Urethral Neoplasms; Urinary Bladder; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

The deleterious effects of decongestant drops on the respiratory nasal mucosa of guinea pigs were studied histopathologically and histochemically. The histopathological changes included: initial goblet cell hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, increased vascularity, oedema of the corium, mononuclear cellular infiltration and glandular hyperplasia. The histochemical changes indicated: increased secretory activity, increased phagocytic activity as well as disturbance of the vasomotor response.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Esterases; Guinea Pigs; Hyperplasia; Metaplasia; Nasal Decongestants; Nasal Mucosa; Rhinitis; Succinate Dehydrogenase

Three different antisera against human prostatic acid phosphatase were used for direct and indirect immunohistochemical demonstration of acid phosphatase in paraffin sections of infantile and adult normal, hyperplastic and carcinomatous prostatic tissue. All antisera were prepared in rabbits. Antiserum A was prepared from highly purified acid phosphatase extracted from autopsy specimens. Antiserum B was a concentrate of a commercial antiserum used in radioimmunoassay and was prepared from purified extracts of human seminal fluid. Antiserum C was a peroxidase-conjugated antiserum prepared from purified extracts of human seminal fluid. The specificity of the three antisera was compared using different immunohistochemical methods and tissues. It was comparably high in all three antisera which gave only slightly different staining results in prostatic tissue. The staining results in prostatic carcinoma were only dependent on the titer of the respective antiserum. Carcinomas with a cribriform growth pattern showed variable staining, but always had a positive immunoreactions, provided the titer of the antiserum was sufficiently high. Striking differences were observed in metaplastic, atrophic and hyperplastic prostatic epithelium. The most intense reaction was observed in atrophic glands: it was much less intense in hyperplastic and normal epithelium and negative or slightly positive in metaplastic epithelium.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Atrophy; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immune Sera; Immunochemistry; Male; Metaplasia; Prostate; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms; Rabbits

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cricetinae; Diterpenes; Drug Interactions; Female; Hydrocortisone; Keratins; Metaplasia; Organ Culture Techniques; Retinyl Esters; Trachea; Vitamin A

A histochemical and ultrastructural investigation of apocrine cells in the human breast has been carried out. These cells showed strong oxidative enzymatic activity, large numbers of mitochondria and numerous infoldings of the basal plasma membrane. In these features, such cells resemble the normal apocrine gland cells. These observations support the view that this lesion is a metaplastic change in normal breast epithelium.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Apocrine Glands; Breast; Breast Diseases; Cell Membrane; Cysts; Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase; Female; Humans; Metaplasia; Mitochondria; Oxidoreductases; Sweat Glands

An experimental histopathological and histochemical work carried out in thirty guinea-pigs of an average weight of 475 gm. receiving oestrogen in the form of ethynyl oestradiol in a dose of 10 microgram/animal/day and aiming at a study of the effects of oestrogen on the respiratory nasal mucosa. The histopathalogical lesions of the respiratory nasal mucosa were in the form of squamous metaplasia and spongiosis of the lining epithelium, with oedema of the underlying corium, glandular hyperplasia submucosal cellular infiltration, increased vascularity and some vascular changes in the form of endothelial proliferation with intimal thickening. Histochemical enzymatic alterations were in the form of increased succinic dehydrogenase activity in the epithelium as well as in the hyperplastic submucous glands, intensified reaction of the acid phosphatase in the cells of the corium, and the appearance of alkaline phosphatase activity in the apical parts of the cells lining the glands, indicating increased secretory activity. All the changes obtained in the histopathological and histochemical studies can be attributed to hormonal stimulation of the nasal mucosa.. The histopathological and histochemical effects of 10 mcg/day of eth inyl estradiol (EE) on the nasal respiratory mucosa were studied in 30 female guinea pigs. Histopathological changes observed after treatment were: 1) squamous metaplasia, 2) spongcosis and edema of the corium, 3) glandular hyperplasia, 4) cellular infiltrations, 5) increased vascularity, and 6) vascular changes in the form of endothelial proliferation with intimal thickening. The observed histochemical changes were: 1) increased succinic dehydrogenase activity in the epithelium and hyperplastic submucous glands, 2) an intensified reaction of acid phosphatase activity in the cells of the corium, and 3) alkaline phosphatase activity in the apical areas of the cells lining the glands. All of the observed changes are attributed to the stimulation of the nasal mucosa by EE.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Esterases; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Guinea Pigs; Hyperplasia; Metaplasia; Nasal Mucosa; Nose Diseases; Succinate Dehydrogenase

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Connective Tissue; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium; Gastric Mucosa; Glycosaminoglycans; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Metaplasia; Microscopy, Electron; Nucleic Acids; Rats; Regeneration; Stomach Neoplasms; Time Factors

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Carrageenan; Cecum; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms; Female; Histocytochemistry; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestinal Polyps; Intubation, Gastrointestinal; Macrophages; Male; Metaplasia; Rats; Rectal Diseases; Rectum; Water Supply

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adenosine Triphosphatases; Alkaline Phosphatase; Atrophy; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium; Esterases; Gastric Mucosa; Gastritis; Gastroscopy; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase; Hypertrophy; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Isocitrate Dehydrogenase; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Metaplasia; Succinate Dehydrogenase

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adult; Aged; Alkaline Phosphatase; Atrophy; Biopsy; Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase; Epithelium; Gastric Mucosa; Gastritis; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Intestinal Diseases; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Leucyl Aminopeptidase; Metaplasia; Methods; Middle Aged; NAD

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Aminopeptidases; Animals; Epithelium; Estradiol; Estrus; Female; Glucosyltransferases; Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase; Histocytochemistry; Metaplasia; Nucleotidyltransferases; Oxidoreductases; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Rats; Testosterone; Vagina

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Chick Embryo; Esterases; Extraembryonic Membranes; Histocytochemistry; Keratins; Metaplasia; Naphthaleneacetic Acids

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Estrogens; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Histocytochemistry; Leucyl Aminopeptidase; Metaplasia; Oxidoreductases; Phosphorylase Kinase; Progesterone; Rats; Testosterone; Transferases; Vagina; Vaginal Diseases

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Allergy and Immunology; Antibody Formation; Australia; Cervix Uteri; Coloring Agents; Electrons; Epithelium; Female; Histocytochemistry; Histological Techniques; Humans; Metaplasia; Microscopy; Microscopy, Electron; Pathology; Photomicrography; Physiology; Plasma Cells; Staining and Labeling