HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF ABH ANTIGENS IN THE PROSTATE

Abstract

Histochemical study was performed to investigate the localization of blood group isoantigens A, B and O(H) in the prostatic tissue including 49 of adenomatous hyperplasia and 17 of adenocarcinoma. For the histochemical approach Avidin-Biotin-Peroxidase Complex (ABC) method was applied because of the superiority to the other methods in terms of high sensitivity, easy procedure and reproducible results.
Isoantigens were found at acinal cells, prostate duct, secretion products in the acini, vessels and red blood cells in the prostatic tissue. Histochemical staining intensity was classified as non-, low and high staining groups according to the staining ratio in one section. When both low and high staining groups were regarded as positive isoantigen, the ratios of adenomatous hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma were 96% and 23%, respectively. However, marked differences of staining intensity were verified even in the adenomatous hyperplasia from case to case. The presence of isoantigens in the prostatic tissue was presumed to be related to the constitution of body fluid secretion. Therefore, salivary secretion of isoantigens was also studied in all patients to investgate the correlation with the tissue isoantigens. Secretory constitution was classified as non-, weak and strong secretory groups. The clear cut relationship was demonstrated between the secretory tendency in the salivary isoantigens and staining intensity in the prostatic tissue. In case of adenocarcinoma, on the other hand, no correlations could be found between salivary secretion and tissue isoantigens, as well as histopathological defferentiation of carcinoma and staining ability.
From the present study, we would like to conclude that the presence of isoantigens of A, B and H in the prostatic tissue depends upon not only malignant transformation but also the individual constitution of body fluid scretion.