Relations of morphometric parameters to zinc content in paediatric and nonhyperplastic young adult prostate glands

Abstract

SUMMARYTo clarify age-related histological and zinc content changes in paediatric and nonhyperplastic young adult prostate glands, a quantitative morphometric and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF) was performed. The prostates were obtained at autopsy from 50 subjects (European-Caucasian aged 0-30 years) who died from sudden infant death syndrome, acute pulmonary aetiologies and trauma. None of the subjects had any symptoms of prostatic disease and all prostates were classified as histologically normal. Each prostate was divided into two portions. One tissue portion was reviewed by an anatomical pathologist whereas another was intended for a Zn mass fraction measurement using EDXRF. The mean per cent volume of the stroma (S), glandular epithelium (E), glandular lumen (L) and glandular component (GC = E + L) were determined and the mean ratios of per cent volumes (S/E, S/ GC and E/L) were calculated for each prostate specimen. It was found that normal prostate tissue undergoes substantial changes from birth through early adulthood. These changes are reflected in an increment of the per cent volume of the glandular epithelium and lumen and in a diminution of the per cent volume of the stroma. The S/E ratio of the prostate falls by a factor of almost 4, between ages <1 and 30 years from 5 : 1 to 1.3 : 1. The Zn mass fraction is nearly 30-35 mg/kg (wet weight basis) and remains steady for first decade of life. Then it begins to increase rapidly during and after puberty. The level of the Zn content in prostate tissue is most closely associated with the volume of the glandular lumen, which reflects the volume of prostatic fluid.

The Variation with Age of 67 Macro- and Microelement Contents in Nonhyperplastic Prostate Glands of Adult and Elderly Males Investigated by Nuclear Analytical and Related Methods

“…It was also found that the percent volumes of these histological structures depend from age and the individual uroflowmetric characteristics of the subject [68]. Moreover, the variations of the individual percent volumes of histological structures and uroflowmetric characteristics also increase with age [24,67,68].…”

“…This conclusion followed from the qualitative analysis of individual data sets [24,38,53,[65][66][67]. It was also found that the percent volumes of these histological structures depend from age and the individual uroflowmetric characteristics of the subject [68].…”

“…Moreover, it was shown that the levels of Zn and some other chemical elements in prostate tissue are androgen-dependent parameters [24][25][26][27][28][29]. The mass fractions of these elements in prostate tissue jump up during puberty and continue to increase in young adult males.…”

Br, Fe, Rb, Sr, and Zn Levels in the Prostatic Secretion of Patients with Chronic Prostatitis

“…In our previous studies a significant involvement of Zn, Ca, Mg, and, perhaps, Rb and some other trace element in the function of prostate was observed [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. One of the main functions of prostate gland is a produc- intercourse for 3 days preceding the procedure.…”

Use of Neutron Activation Analysis and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for the Determination of Trace Elements in Pediatric and Young Adult Prostate

“…The reason for the unusually high trace element content in normal prostate gland is not completely understood. The findings of low Zn level in pediatric prostate warranted the conclusion that androgens are the major factors controlling the accumulation and maintenance of a high content of Zn in the prostate [2][3][4][5].…”