Zinc in normal and pathological human prostate gland

OBJECTIVE: This study is conducted to detect quantitatively zinc in the nuclei and cytoplasm of epithelial cells of the prostate from normal, acute prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma.

METHODS: Prostatic tissues from normal, acute prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma were obtained from patients and processed for zinc detection using x-ray microanalysis technique. The samples were collected over a period of 2-3 years and were processed at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.

RESULTS: Zinc was increased and decreased both in the nuclei and the cytoplasm of the glandular epithelium of benign prostatic hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Although zinc was increased in the nuclei and cytoplasm of epithelial cells of acute prostatitis, it was not significant.

CONCLUSION: These findings might be caused by factors affecting the zinc metabolic pathway directly or through the zinc bound protein metallothionein. In addition, these findings could be used in diagnosing different prostatic pathological conditions and advancing prostatic tumors and those with similar histopathological profiles.