Early cytodifferentiation of human prostatic urethra and Leydig cells

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the urethral epithelium and mesenchyme of the 6- to 9-week-old human embryos was studied in order to reveal early morphological signs of prostatic development. The morphological changes of the urethral wall were correlated with the cytodifferentiation of the Leydig cells of the same embryos. Throughout the study the urethral epithelium had two or more layers of cuboidal cells. The ultrastructure of the cells was primitive and they did not achieve characteristics of the secretory prostatic cell. The surface cells had well developed apical junctions and slender cytoplasmic processes projecting into widened intercellular spaces appeared during the developmental period. The urethral mesenchyme showed the most salient changes. The mesenchymal cells adjacent to the urethral epithelium differentiated in the ninth week inot fibroblast-like cells with an elongated shape and cytoplasmic processes. Granular endoplamic reticulum appeared in the cytoplasm and collagen fibers were seen in the intercellular space. Mesenchymal cell processes contacting the continuous basal lamina under the epithelium were present. No direct epithelio-mesenchymal cellular contacts could be seen. The differentiation of the mesenchyme before the epithelial outgrowths that the mesenchyme has an essential role in the glandular development. Electron microscopic study of the Leydig cells showed that the amount of agranular endoplasmic reticulum increased considerably in the ninth week. This agrees with earlier biochemical findings on the capability of Leydig cells to produce androgens by this time. The temporal relationship between the cytodifferentiation of Leydig cells and the urethral wall is consistent with the idea that in the human, fetal androgens induce prostatic development.