Main description:

When STIEVE published his work on male reproductive organs in this handbook in 1930, a definitive treatment of the morphology of the accessory sex glands seemed accomplished. Nevertheless, the increasing bulk of scientific literature published in the last years on this topic has demonstrated that new methods, e. g. , developments in the fields of electron microscopy, cytochemistry and auto radiography, pose new questions. These principally morphological techniques have yielded new insights into the fine structure and functional organization of these glands. The stress, however, lay on biochemical questions concerning the mechanism of hormone action, since the accessory sex glands were considered to be primary target organs of hormone action, i. e. , their cells bind specific hormones. Besides the basic interest of endocrinologists, morphologists, and biochemists, several unanswered questions arose from the practitioners, e. g. , urologists, andrologists, and other clinicians, especially as regards the prostate gland, one of the organs most affected in elderly men. Thus, the epidemiologic investigations of the last years proved this very organ to be one of the most frequent causes of death in elderly men (HANSEN, 1977). The view of the practi tioner established a special field of investigation and effected a shift from morphologic analysis to biochemical or endocrine aspects. Nevertheless, mor phology, if tempered by experimental or concomitant biochemical studies, pro vides a solid base for tracing the pathologic events occurring in these organs.

Contents:

1. Histogenesis and Organogenesis.- 1.1. Precursor Structures.- 1.1.1. Mullerian and Wolfian Ducts.- 1.1.2. Urogenital Sinus.- 1.1.3. Degenerative Processes in the Precursor Structures of the Accessory Sex Gland.- 1.1.4. Histology and Fine Structure.- 1.1.5. Experimental Investigations.- 1.1.5.1. Androgen Production in the Fetal Tests.- 1.1.5.2. Free Martinism, Testicular Feminization (Tfm) Syndrome and Experimental Investigations.- 1.1.5.3. Fetal Gonadectomy.- 1.1.5.4. Antiandrogen Treatment of Pregnant Animals.- 1.2. Embryology of the Prostate Gland and the Seminal Vesicles.- 1.2.1. Fetal Development of the Prostate Gland.- 1.2.1.1. Human Prostate.- 1.2.1.2. Comparative Embryology.- 1.2.1.3. Histology and Fine Structure.- 1.2.2. Postnatal Development of the Prostate Gland.- 1.2.2.1. Histology.- 1.2.2.2. Histochemistry.- 1.2.2.3. Fine Structure.- 1.2.3. Fetal Development of the Seminal Vesicles, Ampulla Ductus Deferentis, and Ejaculatory Ducts.- 1.2.3.1. Human Seminal Vesicles.- 1.2.3.2. Comparative Embryology.- 1.2.3.3. Fine Structure.- 1.2.4. Postnatal Development of the Seminal Vesicles.- 1.2.4.1. Human Seminal Vesicles.- 1.2.4.2. Comparative Histology and Histochemistry.- 1.2.4.3. Fine Structure.- 1.3. Anatomy of the Human Prostate Gland and Seminal Vesicles.- 1.3.1. Prostate.- 1.3.1.1. Topographic Situation.- 1.3.1.2. External Form, Size, and Dimensions.- 1.3.1.3. Internal Structure.- 1.3.1.4. Prostatic Urethra and Colliculus Seminalis.- 1.3.1.5. Vascular and Nerve Supply.- 1.3.2. Seminal Vesicles.- 1.3.2.1. Topographic Situation.- 1.3.2.2. External and Internal Form, Size, and Dimensions.- 1.3.2.3. Vascular and Nerve Supply.- 2. Prostate Gland.- 2.1. Epithelium.- 2.1.1. Comparative Morphology.- 2.1.1.1. Comparative Histology, Histochemistry, and Fine Structure of the Prostatic Complex.- 2.1.1.2. Histology and Histochemistry of the Rat Prostatic Complex.- 2.1.1.2.1. Ventral Prostate Gland.- 2.1.1.2.2. Dorsolateral Prostate Gland.- 2.1.1.2.3. Coagulating Gland.- 2.1.1.3. Fine Structure of the Rat Prostatic Complex.- 2.1.1.3.1. Ventral Prostate Gland.- 2.1.1.3.2. Dorsal Prostate Gland.- 2.1.1.3.3. Lateral Prostate.- 2.1.1.3.4. Coagulating Gland.- 2.1.1.4. Histology, Histochemistry, and Fine Structure of the Canine Prostate Gland.- 2.1.2. Human Prostatic Epithelium.- 2.1.2.1. General Description.- 2.1.2.2. Histology and Histochemistry.- 2.1.2.2.1. Carbohydrates.- 2.1.2.2.2. Lipids.- 2.1.2.2.3. Proteins and Nucleic Acids.- 2.1.2.2.4. Zinc.- 2.1.2.2.5. Enzymes.- 2.1.2.3. Fine Structure of the Human Prostate Gland Epithelium.- 2.1.2.3.1. Principal Secretory Cells.- 2.1.2.3.2. Basal Cells (Type I of Kastendieck, 1977).- 2.1.2.3.3. Special Epithelial Cell Types.- 2.1.3. Functional Morphology of Prostatic Epithelium.- 2.1.3.1. Growth and Cell Renewal.- 2.1.3.1.1. Remarks on Methodology.- 2.1.3.1.2. The in Vitro Growth of Prostatic Tissue.- 2.1.3.1.3. The in Vivo Studies of Prostatic Growth.- 2.1.3.1.4. Molecular Basis of Prostatic Growth.- 2.1.3.2. Secretory Activity.- 2.1.3.2.1. General Considerations.- 2.1.3.2.2. Time Sequence in the Formation of Secretory Proteins.- 2.1.3.2.3. Mode of Secretion.- 2.1.3.2.4. Chemical Composition of the Secretory Material.- 2.1.3.3. Hormonal Regulation of Prostatic Functions.- 2.1.3.3.1. Androgens.- 2.1.3.3.2. Prolactin.- 2.1.3.3.3. Other Hormones.- 2.1.3.4. Experimental Studies on Functional Morphology.- 2.1.3.4.1. Experimental Studies on Morphology.- 2.1.3.4.2. Reversibility and Stimulatory Experiments.- 2.2. Connective Tissue and Musculature.- 2.2.1 General Description of the Stroma.- 2.2.2. Functional Arrangement of Prostatic Smooth Muscle.- 2.2.3. Histology and Histochemistry.- 2.2.4. Fine Structure.- 2.3. Blood Vessels and Innervation.- 2.3.1. Vessels.- 2.3.1.1. Arteries.- 2.3.1.1.1. Vascular Supply.- 2.3.1.1.2. Age Dependency.- 2.3.1.1.3. Histology.- 2.3.1.1.4. Histochemistry and Fine Structure.- 2.3.1.2. Veins.- 2.3.1.3. Capillaries.- 2.3.1.3.1. Histology.- 2.3.1.3.2. Fine Structure.- 2.3.1.4. Lymphatics.- 2.3.2. Innervation.- 2.3.2.1. General Remarks.- 2.3.2.2. Prostatic Ganglia.- 2.3.2.3. Innervation of the Smooth Muscle Cells.- 2.3.2.4. Innervation of Prostatic Blood Vessels.- 2.3.2.5. Innervation of the Glandular Acini.- 2.3.2.6. Sensory Nerve Corpuscles.- 2.3.2.7. Innervation of the Prostatic Urethra.- 3. Seminal Vesicles.- 3.1. Epithelium.- 3.1.1. Comparative Histology, Histochemistry, and Fine Structure.- 3.1.1.1. Histology, Histochemistry, and Fine Structure of Seminal Vesicle Epithelium in Laboratory Animals.- 3.1.1.1.1. Guinea Pig.- 3.1.1.1.2. Rat.- 3.1.1.1.3. Other Rodents.- 3.1.1.2. Histology, Histochemistry, and Fine Structure of Seminal Vesicle Epithelium in Domestic Animals.- 3.1.1.2.1. Bull.- 3.1.1.2.2. Ram.- 3.1.1.2.3. Goat.- 3.1.1.2.4. Pig.- 3.1.1.3. Primates.- 3.1.2. Human Seminal Vesicle Epithelium.- 3.1.2.1. General Description.- 3.1.2.2. Histology and Histochemistry.- 3.1.2.2.1. Nucleic Acids and Proteins.- 3.1.2.2.2. Carbohydrates.- 3.1.2.2.3. Lipids and Lipopigments.- 3.1.2.2.4. Enzymes.- 3.1.2.3. Fine Structure of the Human Seminal Vesicle and Ampullary Epithelia.- 3.1.2.3.1. Principal Secretory Cells.- 3.1.2.3.2. Duct Cells.- 3.1.2.3.3. Basal Cells.- 3.1.3. Functional Morphology of the Seminal Vesicle Epithelium.- 3.1.3.1. Cell Renewal.- 3.1.3.2. Secretory Activity.- 3.1.3.2.1. General Remarks.- 3.1.3.2.2. Time Sequence of the Process of Secretion.- 3.1.3.2.3. Discharge of the Secretory Product from the Glandular Cells of the Seminal Vesicles.- 3.1.3.2.4. Chemical Compositions of the Secretory Material.- 3.1.3.3. Hormonal Control of Seminal Vesicle Function.- 3.1.3.3.1. Androgens.- 3.1.3.3.2. Prolactin.- 3.1.3.3.3. Other Hormones.- 3.1.3.4. Experimental Studies on Functional Morphology of the Seminal Vesicles.- 3.1.3.4.1. General Remarks.- 3.1.3.4.2. Effects of Orchiectomy.- 3.1.3.4.3. Effects of Antiandrogen Treatment.- 3.1.3.4.4. Effects of Testosterone Treatment.- 3.2. Connective Tissue and Smooth Musculature.- 3.2.1. Age Changes in the Connective Tissue.- 3.2.2. Functional Arrangement of the Smooth Musculature.- 3.2.3. Histology and Histochemistry.- 3.2.4. Fine Structure of the Human Seminal Vesicle Smooth Musculature.- 3.3. Blood Vessels and Innervation.- 3.3.1. Vascular Supply.- 3.3.2. Innervation.- 3.3.2.1. General Remarks.- 3.3.2.2. Ganglia of the Seminal Vesicle.- 3.3.2.3. Nerve Supply of the Muscular Wall.- 3.3.2.4. Experimental Studies on the Fine Structure of the Seminal Vesicle Nerve Axons.- References.- Author Index.