ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL ALTERATION OF THE PROSTATE GLAND ON AGING

From 228 cases of the male unselected consecutive autopsies, we selected 45 cases of the group of the macroscopic non-hypertrophic nodular formation with the maximum diameter of the frontal section of the prostate gland being less than 3.5cm (hereinafter abbreviated as the non-hypertrophic type) and out of which, 43 cases carrying the testis, as well as 36 cases of the group of the macroscopic hypertrophic nodular formation with the maximum diameter being more than 3.51cm (hereinafter abbreviated as the hypertrophic type) and out of which, 32 cases carrying the testis, and examined them together with 39 cases of the prostatic removal group (hereinafter abbreviated as the operation case).<br>On the question of whether or not there exists the nodule, we made a microscopic examination of the staining microscopic specimen and used two major characteristics—one showing a clearcut boundary on its surroundings and the other showing a distinctive image pressing upon its surroundings—as a basis, but excluded the early nodule and the prostatic carcinoma from the examples of the present study.<br>In the autopsy cases, many had a few nodule, while the number of the nodules was also small. As for the frequency of nodular formation, however, the rate shown by the group of nodular formation with the maximum diameter (the frontal section of the prostate gland) being more than 3.51cm was higher than that shown by the group of nodular formation with the maximum diameter being less than 3.5cm; but, the rate increased on aging in non-hypertrophic case.<br>In the operation case, the nodule was big irrespective of the age, and the nodules were numerous.<br>By devising the nodular tissue type (I. the cystic type, II. the proliferative type, III. the non-proliferaative type, IV. the musculofibrous type) and the nodular classification type (the simple type—one consisting of only one kind; the intermediary type—one made up of two kinds; the diversified type—one composed of more than three kinds as classified from the nodular tissue type), we used them to make a comparative study of each case.<br>In the operation case, there were observed the complexity, diversity and non-uniformity; and, such symptoms were already seen even in the case where the nodules were small; hence, it was presumed that these symptoms had something to do with the sudden increase in the nodules.<br>Upon comparing the extra nodular tissue with the intra nodular tissue, mention was made of the prostatic calculus, the prostatic atrophy and the prostatic adenomatous change as a case in which the extra nodular tissue gained an advantage over the intra nodular tissue in properties, degree and number; further, reference was made of the prostatic atrophy, the prostatic adenomatous change, the proliferative change of the glandular epithelium and the cystic change as a case where the operation case advanced more than the autopsy case.<br>The proliferative change of the glandular epithelium was observed in the case where the hypertrophic case stood at advantage over the non-hypertrophic case. The cystic change alone showed a distinctive on-aging influence.<br>Cited as what was subjected to the on-aging influence both in the non-hypertrophic case and the hypertrophic case in the testicular histological image were the degenerative atrophy of the Leydig's cell, the hyalinization of the basement membrane and the synthetic atrophic degree; but, as the case in which the difference between the two cases was observed, mention was made of the following.<br>As a case in which the non-hypertrophic case was more subjected to the on-aging influence, reference was made to the degenerative atrophy of the spermatogenic series.<br>Furthermore, as a case in which the hypertrophic case advanced more in terms of degree and properties, mention was made of the focal tubular hyalinization.<br>As a case in which a proportional relationship was observed in conection with the prostate g