Neuroendocrine Cells and Peptidergic Innervation in Human and Rat Prostrate (Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology Book 194)

Reviews and critical articles covering the entire field of normal anatomy (cytology, histology, cyto-and histochemistry, electron microscopy, macroscopy, experimental morphology and embryology and comparative anatomy) are published in Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology. Papers dealing with anthropology and clinical morphology that aim to encourage cooperation between anatomy and related disciplines will also be accepted. Papers are normally commissioned. Original papers and communications may be submitted and will be considered for publication provided they meet the requirements of a review article and thus fit into the scope of "Advances". English language is preferred. It is a fundamental condition that submitted manuscripts have not been and will not simultaneously be submitted or published elsewhere. With the acceptance of a manuscript for publication, the publisher acquires full and exclusive copyright for all languages and countries. Twenty-five copies of each paper are supplied free of charge. 1 Introduction The prostate causes a signi?cant number of medical problems in the adult male, and the lower urinary tract symptoms are accepted as an unavoidable consequence of male aging. Most of these symptoms are mainly due to clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is the most frequent benign tumor in the male, in- pendent of race or culture. On the other hand, cancer of the prostate shows an increasing incidence, being the second leading cause of death in men, after lung cancer. It has an etiology related to multiple factors: age, race, androgen dep- dence, chemical agents, diet, etc. Both pathologies are very costly in terms of medical resources, and they s- ni?cantly diminish quality of life. More than 400,000 prostate resections per year are done in the US, and these result in an approximate cost of 5 billion dollars per year. Because of all these circumstances, a better knowledge of the mechanisms regulating normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic prostate growth is important for treatment and prevention of BPH and prostate cancer. Since the last review about prostate neuroendocrine cells published in 1998 there have been new and exciting developments relating to these cells in both normal and pathologic prostate. The cross talk of signals between epithelial and neuroendocrine cells seems relevant to the development and physiopathology of the prostate; thus the relationship between these cell populations should be more deeply studied. The prostate hosts an important amount of neuroendocrine cells which origin and functional role need to be better addressed. These cells synthesize and deliver a number of neurosecretory substances (serotonin, neuropeptides) having regulative activities over growth, cell differentiation, and secretion and might have a remarkable influence in the development of prostatic proliferative disorders such as hyperplasia or cancer. Moreover, the autonomous nervous system seems to be relevant in the maintenance of structural and functional integrity of the prostate, a wide variety of peptidergic fibres The Prostate Hosts Neuroendocrine Cells Whose Origin And Functional Roles Warrant Better Understanding. These Cells Synthesize And Deliver A Number Of Neurosecretory Substances Having Regulative Activities Over Growth, Cell Differentiation, And Secretion, And Might Influence The Development Of Proliferative Disorders Such As Hyperplasia Or Cancer. This Study Demonstrates That The Neuroendocrine Cell Population From The Transition Zone Of The Human Prostate Was Greater Than In Both Central And Peripheral Regions. Front Matter....Pages I-XI Introduction....Pages 1-2 The Human Prostate....Pages 2-11 The Neuroendocrine System and the Human Prostate....Pages 12-29 Innervation and Neuroendocrine Cells in Both Normal and Hyperplastic Prostate....Pages 29-38 The Prostate of the Rat....Pages 38-42 Neuroendocrine Cells in the Rat Prostate....Pages 42-51 Innervation of the Rat Prostate....Pages 51-63 Back Matter....Pages 64-80