Neuroendocrine cells evaluation in the urethra of steroid hormones treated veal calves: preliminary results

Concerning density and distribution of NE cells, in the urethra they are more numerous in animals treated with oestrogen + boldenone, while their number decreases owing to treatment with oestrogen + testosterone. About their location, NE cells seem to be more densely distributed near hyperplastic lesions in both two groups of treatment. Data agree with evaluation of same sections in HE staining and after incubation with lectins: actually, estrogen in association with boldenone determines primarly an hyperplastic effect on the urethral and glandular epithelium; its association with testosterone keeps the hyperplastic effect, but produces lesser extented and lesser frequent lesions. In the prostate, results obtained from evaluation of 5-HT immunoreactivity indicate that there are only few NE cells in the pars disseminata. These preliminary results show that hormonal treatments affect the presence and the distribution of NE cells in the urethral epithelium. Further investigation will be addressed to evaluate their immunoreactivity for others typical markers of NE cells (Chromogranin A, NSE) as well as argirofilicity and argentaffinity of their granules both in urethral and in glandular epithelium, and if these characterizations should be later affected or correlated to hormonal treatment. These investigations may provide more detailed informations about the precise role of NE cells in the development of prostatic lesions after hormonal treatment.