Publication: The female prostate and prostate-specific antigen. lmmunohistochemical localization, implications of this prostate marker in women and reasons for using
the term "prostate" in the human female
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Date
2000
Authors
Zaviacic, M. ; Ablin, R.J.
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Publisher
Murcia : F. Hernández
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is currently
the most frequently used marker for the identification of
normal and pathologically altered prostatic tissue in the
male and female. Immunohistochemically PSA is
expressed in the highly specialized apically-superficial
layer of female and male secretory cells of the prostate
gland, as well as in uroepithelial cells at other sites of the
urogenital tract of both sexes. Unique active moieties of
cells of the female and the male prostate gland and in
other parts of the urogenital tract are indicative of
secretory and protective function of specialized prostatic
and uroepithelial cells with strong immunological
properties given by the presence of PSA. In clinical
practice, PSA is a valuable marker for the diagnosis and
monitoring of diseases of the male and the female
prostate, especially carcinoma. In the female, similarly
as in the male, the prostate (Skene's gland) is the
principal source of PSA. The value of PSA in women
increases in the pathological female prostate, e.g.,
carcinoma. Nevertheless, the total amount of PSA in the
female is the sum of normal or pathological female
prostate and non-prostatic female tissues production,
e.g., of diseased female breast tissue. The expression of
an antigen specific for the male prostate, i.e., PSA in
female Skene's glands and ducts, and structural and
functional parameters and diseases similar to that of the
male prostate, have provided convincing evidence of the
existence of a prostate in women and definitive
preference of the term "prostate" over that of Skene's
glands and ducts. The use of the term Skene's glands
incorrectly implies that some other structure rather than
prostate is involved, promoting the vestigial position of
this female organ.
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