Age-related changes of histological composition in established benign prostatic hyperplasia

To clarify the effect of aging on the histological composition of established benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), quantitative morphometric analyses were performed. Specimens were obtained from 23 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate due to symptomatic BPH. Smooth muscle cells, fibrous tissue, glandular cells, glandular lumen and vascular tissue were quantified. Stromal and glandular components of established BPH did not correlate with age, whereas the proportion of vascular tissue was inversely correlated with age (r = -0.572, p = 0.0046). In the present series, the main characteristic of BPH tissue of elderly men appeared to be decreased vascularity.