Participation of Caudal Müllerian Mesenchyma in Prostate Development

Purpose

The human prostate is a heterogeneous tissue. The cause remains unknown. This riddle has become a major problem to modern medicine because it hinders the understanding of human prostatic diseases. I examined the progress recently made in research on urogenital tract development and pathology.

Materials and Methods

A comprehensive review of all relevant literature was performed.

Results

During müllerian duct regression in males the epithelial cells undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition and enter the mesenchymal compartment. The caudal müllerian mesenchyma participates in the development of the rodent and human prostate under the induction of androgen receptor. It retains responsiveness to estrogenic stimulation. Heterogeneous distributions of different mesenchymas cause heterogeneity. This confirms the hypothesis of Price of homologies between rodent and human prostates.

Conclusions

Like the gonad gland, the caudal müllerian duct has a sexual dimorphism of differentiation. It would develop into the vagina in females or the prostate in males, which is controlled by androgen receptor. The features of prostatic müllerian mesenchyma might shed light on the etiology of prostatic carcinogenesis.

Key Words: prostate, mullerian ducts, vagina, estrogens, growth and development

Abbreviations and Acronyms: AMH, antimüllerian hormone, AR, androgen receptor, BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia, CAIS, complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, CG, coagulating gland, CLP, dorsolateral prostate, DHT, dihydrotestosterone, Hox, homeobox, PCa, prostate cancer, PZ, peripheral zone, Tfm, testicular feminization, TZ, transition zone, UGS, urogenital sinus, VP, ventral prostate