The present study aimed to clarify the light and electron microscopic structure of the prostate gland of mature (one-humped camels) during different seasons of the year. Glands of seventy-two mature healthy animals (5-7 years old) were collected from the Cairo slaughter house during one year, (6 samples each month) and prepared to be studied microscopically by the light and electron microscope. The prostate gland was found to be consisted of an external dorsal part dorsal to the neck of the bladder and an internal part situated in the submucosa of the prostatic urethra. During active season (winter and spring), the corpus prostate was enveloped by a thick fibromuscular capsule which sent septa, to divide the gland into lobules. The parenchyma formed of compound tubuloalveolar adenomeres. The alveoli and tubules were lined by high columnar cells and few basal ones. The acini appeared at different stages of secretory activity (synthesis, storage, secretion and exhaustion). Ultrastructurally, the acinar cells contained well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER), numerous mitochondria and a variable number of secretory granules. The duct system began as central collecting sinuses lined by simple columnar secretory epithelium. The pars interna occurred in the submucosa of the prostatic urethra enveloped by a thick fibro-muscular band. The branched tubuloalveolar parenchyma contained adenomeres lined with simple cuboidal epithelium. During the inactive season (summer and autumn), the stroma showed a marked proliferation of the fibromuscular tissue on the expense of the parenchymatous tissue. The adenomeres became very small or even rudimentary with narrow lumina devoid of secretory materials. Marked reduction in the cytoplasmic organelles with a total absence of the secretory granules was also pronounced.

Introduction: The aim of this research was to provide a detailed description of the morphology, topography, and histometry of rabbit accessory genital glands. Material and Methods: Seven male New Zealand White rabbits, 3–4 months of age and weighing 2.1–3 kg were used for the study. The whole urethra from the urinary bladder to the external urethral orifice accompanied by accessory genital glands was sliced at intervals of 1 mm. The serial sections were prepared with haematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Movat–Russell modified pentachrome stain. Results: A detailed description of the morphology and morphometry was provided. The topography of the organs was explained on the basis of characteristic cross-sections on histological slides. The inconsistent nomenclature and descriptions of these glands by different authors were also discussed. Conclusion: The morphometric analysis indicated that some of the glands described have similar dimensions in different individuals, while others like paraprostates revealed high diversity in the number of lobes, their size, and their structure. The accessory glands are also good topographic markers which precisely define the segment of the urethra. The terms “proprostate”, “prostate”, and “paraprostates” as the nomenclature of the prostate complex reflect the location of these glands well and indicate their common origin and function.

Urethral pressure profiles (UPPs) were recorded in ten adult healthy male cats before and after administration of either phenoxybenzamine, diazepam, nifedipine or xylazine. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in urethral pressure at the level of the prostate was observed following treatment with all drugs. Xylazine produced a significant decrease in urethral pressure 4 to 7 cm from the tip of the penis in healthy male cats. None of the drugs used decreased urethral pressure in the zones of pure striated muscle or pure smooth muscle in these cats, making current recommendations for pharmacological management of urethral spasm suspect. Further studies are necessary to evaluate clinical cases of urethral spasm and to study the effects of these drugs on the urethral pressure of cats suffering from this spasm.

The male reproductive tissues including the testis, epididymis, and prostate gland undergo dramatic changes in seasonal breeders from the breeding to non-breeding seasons. Classically, sex steroid hormones play important roles in the epididymis, and prostate gland morphology and functions. To clarify the relationship between androgen receptor (AR) expression and seasonal changes in the male dromedary camel, the immunolocalizations of AR and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were investigated in the testis, epididymis, ductus deference and prostate gland of the dromedary male camel in the breeding season (October to April) using immunohistochemistry, morphometrical measurements, and blood analysis. The testis showed a positive immunostaining of AR and PCNA. The reactions were observed in spermatogonia of the seminiferous epithelium. In the interstitial compartment, weak reaction was found in Leydig cells. Moreover, the epididymal epithelial cells displayed positive AR and PCNA reaction that was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of principal, basal, and dark cells. The most extensive immunostaining of AR was also present in the body segment. However, the staining signals of AR decreased in the in the head and tail. Furthermore, the ampullary glands epithelium and its duct epithelium were positive for AR and PCNA.  Comparatively, the epithelial cells lining the ductus deferens in (DI) and (DM) displayed negative staining than those of other cell types. Finally, the immunostaining for AR and PCNA was detected in tubuloalveolar glands epithelium of both proximal part and distal part. However, in the fibromuscular layer, showed negative staining of both proximal and distal part. Strong immunostaining was detected in in the urothelial cells of prostatic urethra.

An Escherichia coli bacterial prostatitis was experimentally induced to determine the effect of bacterial infection on prostatic tissue zinc concentrations in castrated and gonadally intact male dogs. Five of the 22 mixed-breed dogs (group 1) had no culture evidence of infection 2 weeks after the instillation of bacteria into the prostate gland. The remaining 17 infected dogs were allotted to 2 groups; 1 group of dogs was subjected to castration (group CA, 7 dogs), and the other group of dogs was subjected to sham operation (group SO, 10 dogs). The groups were divided into groups of dogs with prostatic infection at necropsy (groups CA-I and SO-I), and those dogs without prostatic infection at necropsy (groups CA-N and SO-N). Urine, prostatic fluid, and prostatic tissue (week 0, 7, +/- 12) specimens were obtained for bacteriologic culturing to determine whether prostatic infection was present. Prostatic tissue was obtained at necropsy (week < 6, 7, or 12) for analysis of zinc concentration by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The logarithmic mean prostatic tissue zinc concentrations were compared between groups. Group CA had a significantly lower prostatic zinc concentration than all other groups. Zinc concentrations were not statistically different between any of the other groups. Castration did decrease the prostatic tissue concentration of zinc, a known natural antibacterial factor. However, resistance to infection and resolution of infection were not correlated with prostatic tissue zinc concentrations in this experimental model.