Re-evaluation of the immunohistochemical distribution of isoforms of nitric oxide synthase in the human prostate: A light and electron microscopical study

Up until today, there are still uncertainties regarding the occurrence of isoforms of the nitric oxide synthase (eNOS, nNOS) in the human prostate. While nNOS was exclusively seen in slender nerve fibres branching within the transition zone, eNOS was reported in glandular structures and also in small vessels interspersing the tissue. This study aimed to re-evaluate by means of light and electron microscopy (LM, EM), the distribution of eNOS and nNOS in the transition zone of the human prostate. Tissue specimens were obtained from 16 patients who underwent surgery for pelvic malignancies. Using specific antibodies in conjunction with advanced fixation and staining procedures, the occurrence of eNOS and nNOS was investigated. nNOS was detected in nerve fibres interspersing the tissue and was also seen in glandular structures. EM revealed that in glandular epithelial cells immunoreaction for nNOS was limited to the cytoplasmic compartment. Vascular endothelial cells of small vessels transversing glandular structures significantly stained for eNOS, while epithelial layers of prostatic glandules appeared free of eNOS. The results implicate that, in the prostate, nNOS is a mediator of stromal and glandular tissue function, and counteract the assumption of eNOS activity in glandular epithelial cells as a source of NO synthesis.