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Quantitative morphometry of the adult human bladder.
H Lepor1, I Sunaryadi, V Hartanto
1Department of Urology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
The Journal of Urology
|August 1, 1992
Summary
Aging, not benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), increases bladder fibrosis. This study analyzed bladder tissue from 86 individuals, revealing age-related changes in smooth muscle and connective tissue density.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Pathology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in older men.
- The effects of BPH and aging on bladder structure are not fully understood.
- Morphometric analysis provides quantitative data on tissue composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of aging and BPH on bladder morphometry.
- To compare the ratio of smooth muscle to connective tissue in bladders across different age and gender groups.
- To determine if BPH or aging is the primary driver of observed changes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 86 autopsy-obtained bladder specimens.
- Bladder specimens categorized into four groups based on age (35-45 and 65-75 years) and sex.
- Color-assisted computer image analysis and Masson-trichrome staining used to quantify smooth muscle and connective tissue.
Main Results:
- Aging significantly decreased the smooth muscle:connective tissue area density ratio in both males and females.
- No significant difference in this ratio was observed between younger males and females, or between older males and females.
- The study found a relative increase in detrusor fibrosis associated with aging.
Conclusions:
- Aging, rather than BPH, is associated with increased bladder fibrosis (detrusor fibrosis).
- The functional impact of infravesical obstruction in BPH may involve mechanisms independent of bladder's histologic composition.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the functional consequences of these age-related morphometric changes.