Epithelial−stromal relationship in the prostate gland is crucial for maintaining homeostasis, including functional differentiation, proliferation, and quiescence. Pathological stromal changes are believed to cause benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The prostate stromal tissue is known to have several subtypes of interstitial cells that connect the epithelium and smooth muscle. However, the characteristics of their morphology and connection patterns are not fully understood. Therefore, we aimed to investigated the three-dimensional morphology and intercellular interactions of interstitial cells in the prostate ventral lobe of mature wild-type mice using immunohistochemistry and focused ion beam–scanning electron microscopy tomography (FIB–SEM tomography). The prostate interstitial cells exhibited immunohistochemical subtypes, including PDGFRα single-positive, CD34 single-positive, and CD34 and PDGFRα double-positive. PDGFRα single-positive cells were observed as elongated cells just below the epithelium, CD34 single-positive cells were observed as polygonal cells in the area away from the epithelium, and double-positive cells were observed as elongated cells situated slightly deeper than PDGFRα single-positive cells. Furthermore, connexin43-immunoreactive puncta were observed on interstitial cells just beneath the epithelium, suggestive of possible electrical connections among the PDGFRα single-positive interstitial cells. Three-dimensional structural analysis using FIB–SEM tomography revealed sheet-like multilayered interstitial cells that appear to separate the glandular terminal from the deeper interstitial tissue, which includes smooth muscle and capillaries. Further, epithelial cells might be indirectly connected to the smooth muscle and nerve fibers via these sheet-like multilayered interstitial cellular networks. These findings suggest that the cellular network that separates the glandular terminals from the deep interstitial tissue functionally bridges the epithelium and smooth muscle, possibly playing a pivotal role in prostate tissue homeostasis through the epithelial−smooth muscle or epithelial−stromal relationships.

中文翻译：

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小鼠前列腺中的片状间质细胞连接上皮细胞和平滑肌细胞

前列腺中的上皮-间质关系对于维持体内平衡至关重要，包括功能分化、增殖和静止。病理性间质变化被认为会导致良性前列腺增生（BPH）。已知前列腺基质组织具有连接上皮和平滑肌的几种间质细胞亚型。然而，它们的形态特征和连接模式尚不完全清楚。因此，我们的目的是使用免疫组织化学和聚焦离子束扫描电子显微镜断层扫描（FIB-SEM断层扫描）研究成熟野生型小鼠前列腺腹叶间质细胞的三维形态和细胞间相互作用。前列腺间质细胞表现出免疫组化亚型，包括PDGFRα单阳性、CD34单阳性以及CD34和PDGFRα双阳性。 PDGFRα单阳性细胞观察为上皮正下方的细长细胞，CD34单阳性细胞观察为远离上皮区域的多边形细胞，双阳性细胞观察为位于比PDGFRα单细胞稍深的细长细胞。阳性细胞。此外，在上皮下方的间质细胞上观察到 connexin43 免疫反应性斑点，表明 PDGFRα 单阳性间质细胞之间可能存在电连接。使用 FIB-SEM 断层扫描进行三维结构分析显示片状多层间质细胞似乎将腺末端与更深的间质组织（包括平滑肌和毛细血管）分开。此外，上皮细胞可能通过这些片状多层间质细胞网络间接连接到平滑肌和神经纤维。这些发现表明，将腺体末端与深层间质组织分开的细胞网络在功能上桥接上皮和平滑肌，可能通过上皮-平滑肌或上皮-基质关系在前列腺组织稳态中发挥关键作用。