[Prostatic neuroendocrine cells].

Abstract

From the first description of Pretl in 1944, many authors have shown different morphological and immunohistochemical studies related to prostatic neuroendocrine cells. These cells belong to a neuroendocrine system, wide disseminated network, that is found in many human tissues. They secret neuroendocrine peptides and play an important role in the glandular epithelium regulation (growing, differentiation, and exocrine secretion), in both normal and hyperplastic glands. They are also present in ordinary prostatic adenocarcinoma and in unusual small cell carcinoma. Recently, it has been suggested that prostatic neuroendocrine cells may be related to prognosis in prostatic carcinoma, particularly in cases with hormonal therapy resistant. In this study, there are 23 prostatic disorders: 11 nodular hyperplasias and 12 adenocarcinomas, and also areas of normal gland. The objective is the morphologic identification of these cells with silver impregnation technique, in normal tissue, nodular hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma. In normal gland and nodular hyperplasia, the NE cells can be seen along most of the gland or near the urethra, solitary or in small clusters. These cells are located between acinar epithelium cells and basement membrane, but they are also found within the stroma in relation to nerve endings. They characteristically contain argyrophil and argentaffin granules in the cytoplasm and exhibit cytoplasmatic processes extended to acinar or urethral lumen. Within the stroma, they are seen isolated with dendritic or ribbon-like cytoplasmatic processes. In this study, there is only one adenocarcinoma of high grade with NE cells. In this neoplasm they are increase in number, and appear isolated and more polymorphic.