Stress stimuli-induced histopathological changes in the prostate: an experimental study in the rat.

To elucidate a suggested relationship between stress stimuli and prostatis, a histological study on the genital organs of seven rats was performed. The specimens were histopathologically examined after a 10-day period, during which the rats had been submitted to standardized stress stimuli, and compared with corresponding organs from a control group of seven male rats. Inflammatory histopathological changes and large numbers of inflammatory cells were seen in the prostatic glands of all rats submitted to the long-term stress stimuli. The findings agreed with those from the prostatic glands of human males with prostatis. No corresponding changes were observed in the control group. There was no evidence indicating a bacterial origin. The results indicate a connection between stress stimuli and prostatitis.