Receptors for BPH growth factors are located in some neuroendocrine cells.

Background: Prostatic neuroendocrine (NE) cells play an important role in the growth and differentiation of the prostate. We are still unable to characterize the exact mechanisms which lead to interactions between the epithelial cell and the NE cell. We offer several interactions generated by the NE cells, and speculate on some actions of selected NE cells.

Methods: We used thin sections of prostatic tissue made from 20 radical prostatectomies. Our team used validated rabbit polyclonal antibodies which were raised against human EGFR and C-erb B-2, using the streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate method.

Results: A strong immunoreactivity was noted with both antibodies in the cytosol of some NE cells. These cells had a dendritic appearance, and they were located in the acini and ducts of small-to-moderate-sized prostatic glands. Double immunostaining revealed the colocalization of both antigens with chromogranin A (CgA), a polypeptide that is expressed by NE cells. Of interest was the finding that EGFR and C-erb B-2 were colocalized as well as independently expressed by separate populations of NE cells.

Conclusions: We conclude that NE cells may be regulated by the HER protein family, probably in a ligand-specific fashion. This is a revised report which identifies a pathway regulating NE cells, and their interactions with epithelial cells.