Histochemical observations of cholesterol on benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic carcinoma.

The localization of cholesterol in benign prostatic hyperplasia (abbreviation: BPH) and prostatic carcinoma was studied by a modification of the Schultz method. A large amount of cholesterol was observed within variable numbers of the acini in BPH. On the other hand, the acini of prostatic carcinoma revealed only a faint Schultz cholesterol reaction but brownish-blue colorations were present in most of the acini. The cholesterol accumulation in the prostate gland was found in the glandular part rather than in the fibromuscular part. It has been suggested that the glandular cells of hyperplastic periurethral gland may be helpful in synthesis origin of cholesterol.