Formation and Transformation of the Human Prostate Gland in Prenatal and Neonatal Periods of Development

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the morphometric parameters of epithelial cords, ducts, and acini of the human prostate gland and their lining epithelium, and the shape of prostate glands in prenatal and neonatal periods of development. The study was performed on serial histological sections of the pelvic region of 47 human prefetuses and fetuses and 10 prostate glands of boys of early and late neonatal periods. The shape and size of acini and lumens and the epithelial cells of epithelial cords, acini, and prostatic ducts were studied. The results showed that the formation and canalization of prostate epithelial cords were detected already in the early fetal period. The formation of prostatic ducts was not accompanied by an increase in their total area and was the result of differentiation of epithelial cells and apoptosis. It is shown that the size and shape of prostate glandular acini of neonates changed compared to the fetal periods. Conclusions. Prostate glandular acini form sequentially rather than directly from the epithelial cords: the latter are transformed into the prostatic ducts, from which the glandular acini are then formed.