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Intraprostatic spermatozoa: zonal distribution and association with atrophy
Xiaoli Chen1, Jin Zhao, Sadia Salim
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
Human Pathology
|April 15, 2006
Summary
This study found intraprostatic spermatozoa (IS) in 26.1% of radical prostatectomies, often in the peripheral zone. Prostates with IS showed greater atrophy and postatrophic hyperplasia, suggesting a link to prostate inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Uropathology
- Spermatozoa research
- Prostate cancer studies
Background:
- Intraprostatic spermatozoa (IS) are rarely documented, primarily in postmortem prostates.
- IS presence in radical prostatectomies has not been previously described.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the presence of IS in radical prostatectomy specimens with prostate cancer (PC).
- To investigate the association between IS and prostate atrophy in these specimens.
Main Methods:
- Examination of whole mount sagittal sections from 69 radical prostatectomy cases for PC.
- Staining with Berg's stain to identify spermatozoa in the seminal vesicle ejaculatory duct urethra complex (SVEDU) and prostate.
- Assessment of atrophy extent and type using a grid method.
Main Results:
- Eighteen cases (26.1%) showed IS (Group 1), while 22 (31.9%) had spermatozoa only in the SVEDU (Group 2).
- IS was predominantly located in the peripheral zone (72.2%), similar to PC and atrophy.
- Group 1 (with IS) exhibited significantly greater atrophy (25.7% vs. 15.3%) and more frequent postatrophic hyperplasia (72.2% vs. 40.9%) compared to Group 2.
Conclusions:
- The frequency of IS in radical prostatectomies is 26.1%, or 45.0% when considering residual ejaculate.
- IS presence is associated with increased prostate atrophy and postatrophic hyperplasia.
- Further research is needed to explore the role of IS in prostate inflammation and atrophy pathogenesis.