A HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE TESTICLES IN THE BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA AND PROSTATIC CANCER

Abstract

Histological examination of the testicles was carried out in 13 cases of prostatic carcinoma, 24 cases of prostatic hypertrophy, 1 case of prostatic sarcoma and 21 cases of non-prostatic diseases with special reference to changes in basilar membrane of tubuli seminiferi, intratubular cells and interstitial tissue and lipid contents. All patients were over 50 years old except a case aged 48 suffering from prostatic hypertrophy.
In cases of prostatic carcinoma, proliferation of the cells of Leydig and increased lipid contents were characteristic features, while spermatogenesis was less impaired than cases of non-prostatic diseases. These findings were very interesting as the fact was concerned that anti-androgenic therapy and castration were effective treatments for prostatic carcinoma.
In cases of prostatic hypertrophy, histological changes were less severe than that of non-prostatic diseases, but an exceptional increasement of lipid contents in the cells of Leydig were observed.
The finding that was observed in a case of prostatic sarcoma was almoat identical with that of prostatic carcinoma.