Prostate Epithelial Cell Isolation and Culture

The prostate constitutes part of the male reproductive system and is a small gland located at the base of the bladder surrounding the urethra. Although the functions of the prostate are unclear, prostatic secretions comprise around 30% of the components of seminal fluid (1 ) and may provide nutrients for sperm. One component, prostate specific antigen (PSA), a form of chymotrypsin, functions as an anticoagulant maintaining the fluidity of semen. Unfortunately, it is a gland with a high tendency to develop diseases later in life. One of these is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a proliferative disorder of the transition region of the prostate that surrounds the urethra. Growth of both epithelial and mesenchymal cells in this region causes constriction of the urethra, leading to obstruction of the bladder outflow, and serious urinary problems. BPH affects many men from middle age onwards and is one of the most frequent reasons for surgery in elderly men (2 ). Another major disease is prostatic carcinoma, which originates in the epithelial cells and is currently the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men in the USA (3 ).