Literature Review: Neuroendocrine Cells

The prostate NE cells are of the open and closed types. The cells of the open type have an apical cytoplasmic process which extends to the lumen and has long specialized surface microvilli; while those of the closed type are surrounded by other epithelial cells and do not have direct contact with the lumen. Both types of NE cells have long branching dendrite-like processes which extend between nearby epithelial cells. Ultrastructural studies have shown a wide range of neurosecretory granule morphologies which correlate with the large number of known secretory products, including serotonin, histamine, chromogranin A and other members of the chromogranin family of peptides, calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, katacalcin, neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), somatostatin, alpha-human chorionic gonadotropin (alphaHCG), parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), thyroid stimulating hormone-like peptide, cholecystokinin, adrenomedullin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (reviewed in Huang and di Sant’Agnese, 2002). Some of these NE cell products have been detected in seminal fluid raising the possibility that they may be actively secreted into the seminal fluid and regulate sperm function or female genital tract activity. Receptors for some of the NE products have been localized to the prostate and/or prostate cancer including serotonin (5HT1a) (Abdul et al, 1994; Dizeyi et. al. 2004), bombesin/GRP (GRPR) (Aprikian et al, 1996; Sun et al, 2000; Markwalder and Reubi, 1999; Reubi et al, 2002), neurotensin (Seethalakshmi et al, 1997), somatostatin (SSTR1-5) (Halmos et. al. 2000; Berruti et al, 2001; Dizeyi et. al. 2002; Hansson et. al. 2002), cholecystokinin (Petit et al, 2001), Neuropeptide Y (Magni and Motta, 2001) and calcitonin (Wu et al, 1996). Hence, it is proposed that the NE cells may regulate the growth, differentiation and secretory activity of the prostatic epithelium, possibly through a paracrine mechanism. On the other hand, the neural network may play a role in regulating the activity of the NE cells, the contents of the glandular lumen or endocrine, paracrine or autocrine signaling.

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