Androgens and prostate-specific acid phosphatase in whole tissue and in separated epithelium from human benign prostatic hypertrophic glands.

The concentrations of prostate-specific acid phosphatase (PAP), testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5 alpha-DHT), 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, androstenedione, 5 alpha-androstanedione, and androsterone were measured by specific radioimmunoassays in whole pieces and in separated epithelium from human benign prostatic hypertrophic (BPH) tissues. Significant correlations were noted between the concentrations of PAP and 5 alpha-DHT, and PAP and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol in the epithelium, and between PAP and androstenedione, and PAP and testosterone PAP is androgen dependent, particularly as regards 5 alpha-DHT, whereas 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol may operate after conversion to 5 alpha-DHT. There is no obvious explanation for the correlations noted in whole tissue, but is suggested that circulating androgens, representing the androgen source for the prostate, primarily determine the production of PAP. The majority of the PAP in BPH tissues is located extracellularly.