The ultrastructure of Rhesus monkey prostate.

An ultrastructural study of immature and mature rhesus monkey prostate is described and a comparison is made with human tissue. The immature gland consists of largely undifferentiated epithelium showing little or no secretory activity. The mature gland exhibits the general characteristics of prostates of the other species studied. Columnar epithelial cells and undifferentiated basal cells are observed. The two lobes of the gland show several differences, the caudal lobe being rich in secretory granules, with the cranial lobe consisting of taller vacuolated cells. The description provides a basis for comparison with ultrastructural changes produced during in vivo and in vitro experimentation and with characteristics of normal and diseased human prostate.