MORPHOGENESIS AND DUCTAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROSTATIC COMPLEX OF THE GUINEA-PIG

The morphogenesis of glandular architecture of the three lobes of pros tate gland of the guinea pig, lateral, dorsal. and coagulating gland w as studied from 35 days gestation to 90 postnatal days. Epithelial duc tal tubules of various lobes of the gland were microdissected after tr eatment by collagenase and displayed two dimensionally. The number of ductal tips was counted, and the volume of the ductal network was quan tified using a graphic tablet. The results show that the growth and du ctal morphogenesis fall into two phases: prenatal and postnatal. The f irst outgrowth of prostatic buds begins at 35 days gestation (gestatio nal length is 65 days). Ductal growth and branching continues over the next 15-20 days and by 55 days gestation, approximately 60%, 79%, and 71% of the adult number of ductal tips of the lateral and dorsal lobe s and coagulating gland respectively, are formed. The figures increase to 89%, 84%, and 106%, respectively, by birth. There is little increa se in number of ductal tips thereafter. Postnatal growth is accomplish ed mainly by elongation of existing ductal network with a little addit ional branching but with an increase in size (volume) of the tubules. Canalization of ductal tubules occurs prenatally in all lobes but post natal functional cytodifferentiation takes a slightly different pace a mong them. Ductal morphogenesis of the guinea pig prostate gland diffe rs significantly in time-course from that of the mouse in which ductal development occurs mainly postnatally. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.