Chapter 113: Prostate

Question 1

What is the normal size of the prostate?
What breed can have a healthy larger prostate?

Answer 1

• 0.64-0.96g/kg - higher ratios almost always mean changes are there
• Scottish Terriers

Question 2

Is the prostate peritoneal or retroperitoneal?

How does it move around with age?

Answer 2

Both! Its ventral aspect is retroperitoneal
It starts out abdominal -> urachal vestige breaks down at 2mo and it moves pelvic -> puberty starts an abdominal movement / half abdominal by 4 yr and moves to be fully abdominal by 10 yr of age

Question 3

What nervous input increases glandular secretion?

Answer 3

Parasympathetic supply from the pelvic nerve

Question 4

What are the 2 forms of acinar dilation are seen within the mature prostate? When do signs of activity appear?

Answer 4

• Simple dilatation: Many dilated acini with or without luminal eosinophilic secretions which no not compress adjacent acini
• Focal glandular ectasia: Focal dilatation of a few acini with eosinophilic content and compression of the adjacent prostatic parenchyma

Start around 4 months of age

Question 5

List the functions of the prostatic secretions:

Answer 5

• Promote spermatozoa motility and viability
• Increase uterine perfusion
• Modulate neutrophil-induced inhibition of spermatazoa attachment to uterine epithelium

Question 6

What hormone is relaeased from the prostate gland during ejaculation?

Answer 6

Large amounts of prostaglandin E2

Question 7

What substances are found within prostatic secretion? What is it’s pH?

Answer 7

• High concentration of zinc and zinc-binding proteins
• Acid phosphatase (also produced by epididymis)
• Canine prostate-specific esterase (90% total protein)

pH 6.1-6.5

Question 8

List anatomical differences of the feline prostate

Answer 8

• Only partially encircles the urethra (dorsolaterally)
• Can have some prostatic tissue disseminated within the urethral wall caudal to the prostate