Polyamines, hydrolases, (PAP, LAP, SDH, plasmin) TSH, T3, T4 and C-peptide in benign hyperplasia of the prostate.

High concentrations of polyamines have been found in the normal human prostate. The profile of these amines appeared significantly changed in benign hypertrophy of the prostate. An increase of spermine and a fall of putrescine were always found in patients with a hypertrophied prostate weighing more than 30 g. Alterations of plasmin in these tissues seemed to reflect changes in the matrix; abnormalities of thyroid and pancreatic function documented by changes in the serum levels of TSH and c-peptide which are thought to be further evidence of a mesenchymal-epithelial interaction in the pathogenesis of benign prostate hypertrophy.