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.
Institution
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of
Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan. ziad@just.edu.jo |