Ultrastructure of human prostatic epithelium. Secretion granules or virus particles?

The objective of this report is to demonstrate that only slight and superficial similarities exist between true virus particles and secretion granules in human prostatic epithelium. In spite of this, secretion granules have sometimes been called virus or virus-like particles. With the current interest in the possible role of viruses in the etiology of some human cancers, many investigations are in progress in search of human tumor viruses. The presence of RNA virus particles in normal as well as tumor tissues derived from animals and man, further complicates the picture. Also, in view of the fact that recent studies indicate an association between herpes simplex type 2 virus and cervical cancer, the possibility of the involvement of the same virus, which has a venereal mode of transmission, in prostatic and other genitourinary cancers in the human male has been considered. Investigators with peripheral interests in such studies are cautioned against making quick decisions on the nature of the "virus-like particles" often observed in secretory cells because these particles often happen to be cell organelles.