Somatostatin and/or somatostatin-like immunoreactive endocrine-paracrine cells in the human prostate gland.

We demonstrated the presence of somatostatin and/or somatostatin-like immunoreactive (SSLI) endocrine-paracrine (EP) cells for the first time in the human prostate gland. Specimens from 26 prostates removed at radical cystectomies were studied using the unlabeled-antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. The SSLI cells were located predominantly in the prostatic ducts in widely scattered clusters and were mostly of the closed type. Some SSLI cells had processes that were prominent, suggesting a paracrine role. The SSLI cells were always associated with aggregates of numerous argyrophil cells. The finding of SSLI cells in the prostate gland (particularly in association with other EP cells) is circumstantial evidence that other polypeptide hormones are present. The SSLI and other prostatic EP cells may play major roles in the pathophysiology of the prostate gland and have an effect on such diverse conditions as infertility, nodular prostatic hyperplasia, and prostatic carcinoma.