[Immunohistochemical identification of functional relationships in the accessory sex glands]

The distribution of tissue- and organ specific marker proteins has been studied in the accessory sex glands of different mammals. Tissue specific marker proteins are desmin, actin, vimentin, laminin, keratin and related proteins which are well suited to identify smooth muscle cells, fibrocytes, basal cells of the epithelium etc. Secretory proteins were used as markers for organ specificity, e.g. secretory acid phosphatase, prostate specific antigen. In the accessory sex glands of the rat a most complicated pattern of typical secretions was identified using specific antibodies. As deduced from this pattern functional relations are likely between the lateral prostate and the seminal vesicle and the dorsal prostate and the coagulation gland respectively. The ventral prostate of the rat has a particular range among these glands and is homologous to the human prostate.