Structure of the prostate and the pelvic urethra in barrows and the changes induced by diethylstilbestrol

The anatomical and light microscopical structures of the pelvic urethra with the surrounding prostate were investigated in male pigs, which were castrated early in life and examined at slaughter weight. The general structure was regular in the caudal part, but was irregular in the cranial part. In the prostate each lobule contained a cell-rich stroma, which surrounded several glandular tubules and a few prostate ductules. The tubules were lined by low columnar cells and some reserve cells, the ductules by a low two-layered epithelium and the urethra by a transitional epithelium. Small differences in the gland structure and urethral epithelium were observed between the cranial and caudal part. Subcutaneous injection of diethylstilbestrol provoked metaplasia of the epithelium of the urethra and the ducts, while the peroral administration of diethylstilbestrol in combination with methyltestosterone resulted in an increased number of glandular tubules.