Spontaneous Contractions in the Human Prostate Gland

Introduction: All men show characteristics of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) upon aging; it is the most common benign neoplasm in men. When the prostate is enlarged it causes a narrowing of the urethra leading to bladder outlet obstruction and reduced urine flow. The symptoms vary and include nocturia, incomplete emptying, urinary hesitance, weak stream, urgency and frequency to the development of acute urinary retention and renal insufficiency. BPH occurs in the transition zone, rather than the peripheral zone, where cancer more commonly occurs. Lack of fundamental understanding of the basic biology of the gland remains a significant barrier to developing new and more effective treatments for BPH. Our overall hypothesis is that age-related changes in the mechanisms regulating spontaneous contractile (and electrical) activity of the prostate gland, significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of BPH. In this study, we characterized the spontaneous contractile activity of the transition zone in prostate specimens from 12 men (<65yo).