Light‐microscopic stereology for the study of the ventral and dorsal prostates of the syrian hamster: Strategy, techniques, and applications

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Abstract
A stereological approach to studying the architecture of the ventral and dorsal prostates of the Syrian hamster is described. In this approach, the prostate is considered to consist of acinar and interacinar compartments. The acinar compartment is divided into luminal, epithelial, lamina proprial, and muscular stromal compartments. Volume fractions of acini and interacinar tissue are calculated with reference to the volume of the gland; those of the acinar components are calculated with reference to the acinar volume. Volume fractions are determined from point counts. The surface fraction of the secretory epithelium is determined from intercept counts, with reference to the volume of the epithelium. By assuming that the acini are cylindrical, the acinar length fraction is calculated with reference to the volume of the gland. Absolute values for the volumes of different components, epithelial surface area, and acinar length can be determined from the weight of the gland, its specific gravity, and the volume fraction of that component, or epithelial surface fraction, or acinar length fraction, respectively. Finally, from these values and assuming a cylindrical shape for acini, characteristics of the typical acinus, including its radius, the thicknesses of its epithelium, lamina propria, and muscular stroma, and the amount of mucosal folding can be calculated from simple geometrical formulae. This approach is illustrated from a consideration of the ventral and dorsal prostates of 20‐week‐old Syrian hamsters.