CORRELATION BETWEEN MORPHOMETRIC DIFFERENCES AND NOREPINEPHRINE CONTENT IN BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Tissue norepinephrine (NE) content and quantitative morphometric analy sis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were evaluated in 30 patient s with symptomatic BPH. BPH specimens were obtained by transurethral r esection, and NE content was evaluated by high-performance liquid chro matography. Tile proportions of smooth muscle fibrous, and glandular e lements were determined by the light microscopic stereological method. Norepinephrine content of the prostate correlated well with the propo rtion of smooth muscle component (r = 0.749, P < 0.0001). The percenta ge of fibrous tissue element was positively correlated with prostate s ize (r = 0.459, P = 0.0099). Norepinephrine content and histological c omponents did not correlate with subjective symptom score. Morphemetri cal findings and NE content did not correlate with uroflowmetry parame ters and postvoid residual urine rate. In conclusion, NE content of th e prostate was probably determined by the amount of smooth muscle elem ent in BPH tissue. The fibrous tissue element was increased in large h yperplastic tissue. The severity of BPH could not be explained by diff erences in histological composition alone. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.