Heterotransplantation of human prostatic tissue.

Pieces of human prostatic tissue (approximately 1 mm3) were encapsulated in XM-50 Amicon hollow fibers and either implanted into the testis of an adult male rat or placed in culture. The protein synthetic capacity of such tissue pieces removed 1-42 days later was monitored by TCA precipitation, SDS-PAGE, and autoradiography. The results showed that tissue pieces retained their functional protein synthetic elements after this procedure. A newly developed solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for human prostatic antigen (PA), described in this report, was used to monitor PA levels in the serum of the recipient host or culture media. In some instances PA was detected 1-2 weeks postimplantation, a result that implies maintenance of functional secretory elements in vivo. Finally, morphology of tissue pieces 1-2 weeks postimplantation sometimes showed the presence of ductal epithelia and stromal elements in distribution patterns typical of those seen in fresh biopsy samples. We conclude that the function and structure of prostatic tissue implanted intrastesticularly compares favorably with that maintained in conventional explant culture. As such, the hollow fiber method offers promise for a new way of monitoring hormonal and/or chemotherapy testing of human prostatic tissue.