Quantitative Morphometry of the Adult Human Bladder

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Abstract
The primary objective of the present retrospective study was to characterize the effects of aging and BPH on bladder morphometry. Eighty-six bladder specimens were obtained from the autopsy archives of the Milwaukee County Medical Complex. The bladder specimens were divided into 4 groups based upon age and gender: Group I: males between the ages of 35–45 years; Group II: males between the ages of 65–75 years; Group III: females between the ages of 35–45 years; and Group IV: females between the ages of 65–75 years. The age groups were selected in order to identify a group of males with and without BPH. The area density of smooth muscle:connective tissue was determined in bladder specimens using color assisted computer image analysis. Masson-trichrome and double immunoenzymatic staining techniques were used to discriminate the smooth muscle and connective tissue elements of the bladder. The area density of smooth musclexonnective tissue in the Masson-trichrome stained sections was significantly greater in Group I vs. Group II (2.90 ± 0.22 vs. 2.33 ± 0.16) and in Group III vs. Group IV (2.85 ± 0.13 vs. 2.03 ± 0.20). Aging was associated with a decrease in the area density of smooth musclexonnective tissue ratio in both males and females. The area density of smooth musclexonnective tissue was not significantly different in younger males and females (Group I vs. Group III) and older males and females (Group II vs. Group IV). The present morphometric study suggests that aging and not BPH, is associated with a relative increase in detrusor fibrosis. Infravesical obstruction in BPH may effect bladder function via mechanisms unrelated to the histologic composition of the bladder. Accepted for publication March 12, 1992.