From:
Dr. Bruce Williams
Date: 2001-03-01 19:03:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Adrenal again?
> Females do not have a prostate so the large risk is not there.
This is one of those gee whizzes, but I work with the people who made
this discovery. It has no bearing in ferrets (probably) but makes
good cocktail party discussion.
The 'female prostate': location, morphology, immunohistochemical
characteristics and significance.Wernert N, Albrech M, Sesterhenn I,
Goebbels R, Bonkhoff H, Seitz G, Inniger R, Remberger K
Institute of Pathology, University of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar, FRG.
Using immunostaining for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and
prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), we can demonstrate prostate-
analogous periurethral glands (the 'female prostate') in 66.7% of 33
cases. Histomorphologically, these glands resemble strongly the male
prostate glands before puberty. They remain immature throughout life
from the fetal period up to advanced age obviously because of a lack
of an androgenic stimulus. The glands have long ducts leading into
the urethra. A proper stroma component is missing. The
immunohistochemical behavior of these glands also corresponds widely
to that of the male prostate glands before puberty. No indications
can be found for a proper biological function.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM
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