Telocytes play a key role in prostate tissue organisation during the gland morphogenesis

Telocytes are CD34‐positive interstitial cells, known to exert several functions, one of which is a role in tissue organisation, previously demonstrated by telocytes in the myocardium. The existence of telocytes in the prostate has recently been reported, however, there is a lack of information regarding the function of these cells in prostate tissue, and information regarding the possible role of these cells in prostatic development. This study used immunofluorescence techniques in prostate tissue and prostatic telocytes in culture to determine the relationship between telocytes and prostate morphogenesis. Furthermore, immunofluorescent labelling of telocytes was performed on prostate tissue at different stages of early postnatal development. Initially, CD34‐positive cells are found at the periphery of the developing alveoli, later in the same region, c‐kit‐positive cells and cells positive for both factors are verified and CD34‐positive cells were predominantly observed in the interalveolar stroma and the region surrounding the periductal smooth muscle. Fluorescence assays also demonstrated that telocytes secrete TGF‐β1 and are ER‐Beta (ERβ) positive. The results suggest that telocytes play a changing role during development, initially supporting the differentiation of periductal and perialveolar smooth muscle, and later, producing dense networks that separate alveoli groups and form a barrier between the interalveolar region and periurethral smooth muscle. We conclude that telocytes play a relevant role in prostate tissue organisation during postnatal development.     

Morphological features of the epididymal epithelium of gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus

Principal cells of the ducts epididymis of the Mongolian gerbil showed ultrastructural characteristics of lining epithelium cells close related to processes of protein secretion, and transcytosis occurring between adjacent principal cells which were mainly verified in the initial segment. Principal cells also presented roles of fluid phase and adsorptive endocytoses, as well as autophagic and heterophagic lysosomal activities mainly observed in the caput epididymis. Columnar (principal) cells of the corpus epididymidis presented great number of variable vesicles and vacuoles distributed in all the cytoplasmic levels occurring a progressive coalescence pattern among them, which help to guarantee formation of cytoplasmic channels for fluid phase transport between the tubular lumen and epididymal interstitium. Clear cells were presented in the initial segment and predominately in the cauda epididymis epithelium of the gerbil and showed marked ultrastructural characteristics of endocytosis activities occurrence, perhaps directly related to the turnover of fluid phase of spermatozoa stored into the lumen of the distal tail. Other epididymal epithelium cells were verified and described such as basal, halo, apical and dark cells, but they did not presented special ultrastructural features.     

Immunolocalization of aquaporins 1, 2 and 7 in rete testis, efferent ducts, epididymis and vas deferens of adult dog

The transepithelial movement of water into the male reproductive tract is an essential process for normal male fertility. Protein water channels, referred to as aquaporins (AQPs), are involved in increasing the osmotic permeability of membranes. This study has examined the expression of AQP1, AQP2, and AQP7 in epithelial cells in adult dog efferent ducts, epididymis, and vas deferens. Samples of dog male reproductive tract comprising fragments of the testis, initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis, and vas deferens were investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting procedures to show the localization and distribution of the AQPs. AQP1 was noted in rete testis, in efferent ducts, and in vessels in the intertubular space, suggesting that AQP1 participated in the absorption of the large amount of testicular fluid occurring characteristically in the efferent ducts. AQP2 expression was found in the rete testis, efferent ducts and epididymis, whereas AQP7 was expressed in the epithelium of the proximal regions of the epididymis and in the vas deferens. This is the first time that AQP2 and AQP7 have been observed in these regions of mammalian excurrent ducts, but their functional role in the dog male reproductive tract remains unknown. Investigations of AQP biology could be relevant for clinical studies of the male reproductive tract and to technologies for assisted procreation. R.F.D. gratefully acknowledges a Fellowship from the Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. This work was also funded by FAPESP (Sao Paulo State Research Foundation; grant 04/05578–1 to A.M.O. and grant 04/05579–8 to R.F.D.). This paper is part of the PhD Thesis presented by R.F.D. to the State University of Campinas – UNICAMP, Brazil.     

Proffered papers 9.30–10.00 Monday 15 September 2003

Both the original Bethesda system and the current UK classifications of cervical cytology have proved robust but each has a major weakness in the area of abnormalities of uncertain significance. Cytologists recognize that sometimes it is simply impossible to differentiate between reactive and dyskaryotic material. For this reason, the Australian version of the Bethesda system introduced a new category of 'high grade inconclusive' with a recommendation for referral to colposcopy. Approximately 60% of such cases are found to have high grade lesions at colposcopy (Schoolland M, Sterrett G, Knowles S et al .). The present UK system even with the proposed changes requires of the pathologist, a decision as to whether such cases are probably high grade (=a report of moderate dyskaryosis) or not (= a report of borderline). This continues to ignore the fact that sometimes you just cannot tell, even on review. We have taken a consecutive series of 50 referral smears, reported as moderate dyskaryosis, where the histological outcome (by loop cone) is known. These cases were rescreened and then reviewed blind by a pathologist with extensive experience of the Australian NH & MRC modified Bethesda system. On review, the material was reclassified along NH & MRC lines. The results were compared with the biopsy findings in order to determine whether the category of 'inconclusive' might be of value in the context of the NHSCSP.