Uterus v Skene's Gland as the analogue for the male prostate

August 30, 2004

Hi Sammy & All,

Sammy wrote:

> The origin of the prostate and its female equivalent came up about

> a year ago. The consensus then was the female uterus is the

> equivalent of the male prostate. I would have to disagree with

> this statement by Phil: " Skene's gland ... female equivalent of

> the male prostate. " The Cowpers gland in the male is much more

> likely to be the equivalent of Skene's gland in the female. See :

> http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio105/reproduc.htm and ..

> http://www.vnh.org/OBGYN/Vulva/Skenitis.htm The prostate is a

> single organ that if mirrored in the female would necessarily be

> single too. Skene's gland comes in pairs and so must have a

> different origin anatomically. I checked Phil's links below and

> references to Skene's gland and the prostate are highly

> speculative. On the other hand the relationship between the

> prostate and uterus has been documented.

> http://www.icr.ac.uk/gfr/teams/sexdev.html

None of those references change my opinion, especially when compared with

the many other references to Skene's gland. See: http://tinyurl.com/5n89n and

new references, below.

> Someone please correct me if this is factually incorrect: Prior to

> primary sex differentiation in the embryo the gonads of both male

> and female are situated in the primitive urogenital sinus. During

> primary sexual differentiation, in the male the whole assembly

> migrates 'south' under the influence of testicular androgens. What

> later becomes the prostate lodges below the bladder; the gonads

> continue their journey to the scrotum. In the female of course,

> the uterus and the gonads stay where they are, developing as a

> single unit. G.A. Bates BA, BSc, MSc, PGCE.

Sammy, with respect, the prostate is NOT a single gland. It may look like that

because it lies around the urethra at the outlet from BL. See:

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/21692440/

However, it has MULTIPLE lobes, each with its own prostatic duct. See:

www.geocities.com/medinotes/urinary_bladder_and_urethrae.htm

http://www.e-rham.com/atcls_04.asp says: " the prostate is made up of many

individual glands which release their secretions into the prostatic urethra

through separate ducts " .

http://tinyurl.com/4edu7 says: " The prostate gland is fused to the inferior part

of

the bladder and it surrounds the prostatic urethra. ... The ejaculatory ducts

divide the prostate, although not completely, into 3 lobes - the left, right and

the

median lobe. The latter has considerable clinical importance because of its

anatomical relation with the bladder and its tendency to enlarge in benign

senile

hypertrophy of the prostate. "

http://medic.med.uth.tmc.edu/Lecture/Main/pelvis-visc.htm says: " Prostatic

urethra: Extends from the internal urethral orifice at the apex of the trigone

of

the bladder to the UG diaphragm - about 3 cm. Lumen is spindle-shaped. A

urethral crest on the posterior wall is a continuation of the trigone of the

bladder. The crest widens to form a smooth eminence, the seminal colliculus.

The prostatic utricle, a homologue to the vagina and uterus in the female, opens

on the colliculus as a slit-like aperture. Ejaculatory ducts open onto the

colliculus on either side of the utricle. On each side of the colliculus,

prostatic

sinuses bear 12-20 tiny orifices, openings of the prostatic ducts "

IMO, the prostate is a small solid multilobed glandular organ. I cannot see it

as

a valid homologue of the uterus (a large hollow organ).

Skene's gland (also known as the lesser vestibular or paraurethral glands) is

the female equivalent of the male prostate. And, yes, there is a female

equivalent to ejaculation. For details, see: http://tinyurl.com/6mrdw

See also: http://www.sciencedaily.com/encyclopedia/skene_s_gland

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992495 and

http://www.valuemd.com/viewtopic.php?p=111092

Finally, many abstracts in Medline equate Skeyne's gland with the prostate:

1: Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2004 Jan;23(1):71-4. Skene's gland adenocarcinoma

resembling prostatic adenocarcinoma. Pongtippan A, Malpica A, Levenback C,

Deavers MT, Silva EG. Department of Pathology, University of Texas M.D.

Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 77030, USA. An 88-year-old woman

presented with gross hematuria and a 3-cm periurethral mass. Biopsy revealed

an adenocarcinoma resembling prostatic adenocarcinoma; the tumor cells were

positive for keratin and prostate-specific antigen. The serum level of prostate-

specific antigen was elevated; the carcinoembryonic antigen and CA-125 serum

levels were normal. One year after external beam radiotherapy, the patient is

without evidence of disease. This is the sixth case of a urethral prostatic-type

adenocarcinoma, tumors that are most likely of Skene's gland origin.

Publication Types: Case Reports PMID: 14668555 [PubMed - indexed for

MEDLINE]

2: Tissue Cell. 2003 Dec;35(6):447-57. Structure, histochemistry, and

ultrastructure of the epithelium and stroma in the gerbil (Meriones

unguiculatus)

female prostate. dos Santos FC, Carvalho HF, Goes RM, Taboga SR.

Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6109,

13084-971 Campinas, SP, Brazil. The female prostate has aroused scientific

interest because it is subjected to the same diseases compromising the male

prostate during aging. The objective of this work was to characterize

structurally, cytochemically, and ultrastructurally the tissue compartments of

the normal adult female prostate of Meriones unguiculatus gerbils. The

morphological analyses showed that the gerbil's female prostate is constituted

of a cluster of glands and ducts inserted in a musculofibrous stroma. The

alveolar epithelium is differentiated and consisted of basal proliferating

cells,

intermediary cells, and secretory cells. The secretory cells are the most

numerous cell type and continuously secrete glycoproteins. The basal cells are

the source of the secretory cells and they are then responsible for the alveolus

renovation. The prostatic stroma is abundant and rich in elastic and collagen

fibers, which are closely associated with smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts.

The results showed that the gerbil's female prostate shows morphological and

ultrastructural homology to the human female prostate (Skene's gland), and

despite being a small organ, it is a mature and physiologically active gland.

PMID: 14580358 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3: Ann Anat. 2002 Jul;184(4):341-5. Morphological characterization of the

female prostate (Skene's gland or paraurethral gland) of Lagostomus maximus

maximus. Flamini MA, Barbeito CG, Gimeno EJ, Portiansky EL. Department of

Histology and Embryology, School of Veterinary Sciences, National University

of La Plata, P.O. Box 296, 1900 La Plata, Argentina. aflamini

The Skene's (paraurethral) gland is the histologic homologue to the male

prostate. Much experimental work has been done on women and on various

rodents. In this study we describe for the first time the anatomical and

histological characteristics of the paraurethral gland in the plain viscacha

(Lagostomus maximus maximus). This gland is formed by tubuloalveolar

adenomers surrounded by connective tissue and smooth muscle fibers. The

adenomers are lined by cuboidal or columnar epithelium. In the lumen of the

adenomers, PAS positive secretions could be detected. The conduits are lined

by bi-stratified epithelium. In some aspects this gland is similar to that of

other

mammals. PMID: 12201043 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

4: Gynecol Oncol. 2000 Dec;79(3):511-4. Female urethral adenocarcinoma

arising from urethritis glandularis. Chan YM, Ka-Leung Cheng D, Nga-Yin

Cheung A, Yuen-Sheung Ngan H, Wong LC. Department of Obstetrics and

Gynecology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

INTRODUCTION: Female urethral adenocarcinoma is extremely rare and more

than one tissue of origin has been suggested other than the Skene's gland.

Immunohistochemistry with cytokeratins (CK) 7 and 20 is used to define the

origin of the tumor. CASE REPORT: A 72-year-old woman presented with a 2-

cm polypoid tumor at the external urethral meatus and bleeding. Wide local

excision and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy were performed. Postoperative

convalescence was uneventful. It was a poorly differentiated mucinous

adenocarcinoma without direct urothelial involvement. There were focal areas of

intestinal metaplasia. The tumor cells were positive for CK 7 and 20 and

negative for prostate-specific antigen. DISCUSSION: This case provides

supportive evidence that mucinous urethral adenocarcinoma may arise from

Press. Publication Types: Case Reports PMID: 11104631 [PubMed - indexed

for MEDLINE]

5: Histol Histopathol. 2000 Jan;15(1):131-42. The female prostate and

prostate-

specific antigen. Immunohistochemical localization, implications of this

prostate marker in women and reasons for using the term " prostate " in the

human female. Zaviacic M, Ablin RJ. Department of Pathology, Comenius

University School of Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia. Prostate-specific antigen

(PSA) is currently the most frequently used marker for the identification of

normal and pathologically altered prostatic tissue in the male and female.

Immunohistochemically PSA is expressed in the highly specialized apically-

superficial layer of female and male secretory cells of the prostate gland, and

as well as in uroepithelial cells at other sites of the urogenital tract of both

sexes. Unique active moieties of cells of the female and the male prostate

gland and in other parts of the urogenital tract are indicative of secretory and

protective function of specialized prostatic and uroepithelial cells with strong

immunological properties given by the presence of PSA. In clinical practice,

PSA is a valuable marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases of the

male and the female prostate, especially carcinoma. In the female, similarly as

in the male, the prostate (Skene's gland) is the principal source of PSA. The

value of PSA in women increases in the pathological female prostate, e.g.,

carcinoma. Nevertheless, the total amount of PSA in the female is the sum of

normal or pathological female prostate and non-prostatic female tissues

production, e.g., of diseased female breast tissue. The expression of an antigen

specific for the male prostate, i.e., PSA in female Skene's glands and ducts,

and structural and functional parameters and diseases similar to that of the

male prostate, have provided convincing evidence of the existence of a prostate

in women and definitive preference of the term " prostate " over that of Skene's

glands and ducts. The use of the term Skene's glands incorrectly implies that

some other structure rather than prostate is involved, promoting the vestigial

position of this female organ. Publication Types: Review Review, Tutorial PMID:

10668204 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6: Anat Embryol (Berl). 2000 Jan;201(1):51-61. Ultrastructure of the normal

adult human female prostate gland (Skene's gland). Zaviacic M, Jakubovska V,

Belosovic M, Breza J. Department of Pathology, Comenius University School of

Medicine, Sasinkova 4, SK-811 08 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

zaviacic The predominant cells of female prostatic glands lining

their lumen were found to be tall cylindrical secretory cells with short stubby

microvilli, protuberances of the apical cytoplasm, and with bleb formation.

Abundant secretory vacuoles and granules, rough endoplasmic reticulum,

developed Golgi complexes and numerous mitochondria are characteristic of

their active secretory configuration with apocrine (apical blebs) and merocrine

(secretory vacuoles and granules) type of secretion. Basal (reserve) cells were

seen to be located between the secretory (luminal) cells and the basement

membrane. Their ground cytoplasm is dense with rough endoplasmic reticulum

and mitochondria. Their nuclei, unlike those of secretory cells, possess more

peripheral condensed chromatin, denser dispersed chromatin and sporadic

nucleoli. Besides the two basic types of mature prostatic cells intermediary

cells were also seen, located between the basal and secretory cells or in their

close vicinity. Their cytoplasm exhibits numerous profiles of rough endoplasmic

reticulum and free ribosomes. Secretory vacuoles and granules were mostly

practically absent (type 1 intermediary cells) so that they resembled basal

(reserve) cells. In some of them, however, as in secretory cells, such secretory

elements do gradually appear (type 2 intermediary cells). The finding of

intermediary cells in the lining of prostatic glands supports the role of basal

(reserve) cells in the renewal of cells in glands of the female prostate. The

first

ultrastructural analysis of the normal female prostate performed by

transmission electron microscopy showed that, as in the postpubertal male,

the prostatic glands in the adult female display mature secretory and basal

cells. The results of the presented study further corroborate the contemporary

concept of the female prostate as a functional genitourinary organ. PMID:

10603093 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

7: J Urol. 1999 Jun;161(6):1881-4. Female urethral adenocarcinoma:

immunohistochemical evidence of more than 1 tissue of origin. Murphy DP,

Pantuck AJ, Amenta PS, Das KM, Cummings KB, Keeney GL, Weiss RE.

Department of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New

Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. PURPOSE: Urethral adenocarcinoma is a rare

malignancy whose origin remains controversial. The monoclonal antibody

mAbDas1 (formerly 7E12H12) was developed against a unique colonic epithelial

epitope and is reactive in areas of intestinal metaplasia. Recently the antibody

was shown to react in cystitis glandularis as well as adenocarcinoma of the

bladder, suggesting that cystitis glandularis may be the precursor of bladder

adenocarcinoma. We examined urethral adenocarcinomas and benign urethral

specimens using mAbDas1 to determine whether it could provide insight into

their histogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Archival tissue from 12

cases of primary female urethral adenocarcinoma and urethral specimens of

inflamed urethral mucosa, urethritis glandularis and transitional cell carcinoma

was studied. Immunohistochemical analysis of formalin fixed, paraffin

embedded archival tissue was done using the monoclonal antibody mAbDas1.

Tumors were also evaluated with a prostate specific antigen (PSA) polyclonal

antibody as previous studies have noted PSA reactivity in these tumors.

RESULTS: Of the 12 cases 9 were columnar/mucinous adenocarcinoma, 2

clear cell adenocarcinoma and 1 a cribriform pattern resembling

adenocarcinoma of the prostate. All columnar/mucinous adenocarcinomas

reacted positively (6 strongly and 3 focally) with the mAbDas1 antibody but did

not react with the PSA antibody. The tumor with a cribriform pattern reacted

strongly with PSA but did not react with mAbDas1. The 2 clear cell

adenocarcinomas did not react with either antibody. The benign urethral

specimens demonstrated strong reactivity to the mAbDas1 antibody in areas of

urethritis glandularis but normal and inflamed urethral mucosa and transitional

cell carcinoma did not react. CONCLUSIONS: Primary adenocarcinoma of the

female urethra arises from more than 1 tissue of origin. Columnar/mucinous

adenocarcinomas of the female urethra and urethritis glandularis demonstrate

consistent reactivity with the mAbDas1 antibody, suggesting that these tumors

arise from glandular metaplasia analogous to the potential histogenesis

previously demonstrated in the bladder. PSA reactivity occurred in 1 tumor with

a cribriform pattern and likely represents origin from Skene's glands. Clear

cell

adenocarcinomas did not react with either antibody, suggesting a third possible

pathway in the development of this rare subset of adenocarcinomas. PMID:

10332458 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

8: Pathol Res Pract. 1998;194(2):129-36. Metastasizing adenocarcinoma of

the female prostate (Skene's paraurethral glands). Histological and

immunohistochemical prostate markers studies and first ultrastructural

observation. Sloboda J, Zaviacic M, Jakubovsky J, Hammar E, Johnsen J.

Department of Pathology, Centrallasarettet, Karlskrona, Sweden. The case of a

46-year-old women with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the female

prostate (Skene's paraurethral glands and ducts) with inguinal metastases is

reported. Besides adenocarcinomatous structures, also more solid parts of the

tumor and anaplastic regions with dark cells were found on histological

examination. Clear cancerous cells were typical for glandular and solid tumor

parts. The cancerous cells showed distinct immunohistochemical positivity of

prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate (specific) acid phosphatase

[P(S)AcP]. These are the first published results of electron microscopic

examination of formalin fixed tissue showing the ultrastructure of female

prostate carcinoma, comparable to that of the male prostate carcinoma. In the

female, similar to the male, the prostate carcinoma probably originates from the

secretory (luminal) cells of the female prostatic glands. Publication Types:

Case Reports PMID: 9584326 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

9: Histochem J. 1997 Mar;29(3):219-27. Immunohistochemical localization of

human protein 1 in the female prostate (Skene's gland) and the male prostate.

Zaviacic M, Danihel L, Ruzickova M, Blazekova J, Itoh Y, Okutani R, Kawai T.

Institute of Pathology, Comenius University, School of Medicine, Bratislava,

Slovakia. Mouse monoclonal anti-urine protein 1 antibody and the biotin-

streptavidin-peroxidase technique were used for the immunohistochemical

demonstration of human protein 1 in prostatic tissue of both sexes. In the

female prostate (Skene's gland), like the male prostate, high expression of

human protein 1 was observed on the luminal surface and in the apical

cytoplasm of secretory cells of prostatic glands, as well as on the luminal

surface of the epithelium of the large ducts of the female prostate and urethra.

Expression was also found in the membranes of secretory and basal cells of

the glands, in membranes of the urethral uroepithelium and of the female

prostate ducts, in the content of glands and ducts, as well as in vascular

endothelium and smooth muscle. Human protein 1 (urine protein 1) expression

in the secretory cells of the male and female prostate and its incorporation

into

the surface of cells lining the lumina of the female urethroprostatic complex is

indicative not only of the secretory role of protein 1 but also of its potential

protective properties operative in shielding the uroepithelium from the

aggressive

urinary environment. All genito-urinary tissue, and especially the female

prostate, were found to be a potential source of urine protein 1 (human protein

1), refuting the notion held so far that it is exclusively the genito-urinary

prostatic tissue of the male that participates in its production. The

corresponding immunohistochemical distribution of human protein 1 in the

same structures of the male and female prostate provides yet another

analogous functional-morphological parameter of prostatic tissue in both sexes

and further evidence supporting the non-vestigial concept of the prostate in the

female. PMID: 9472384 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

10: Acta Histochem. 1997 Aug;99(3):267-75. Immunohistochemical

distribution of rabbit polyclonal antiurinary protein 1 antibody in the female

(Skene's gland) and male prostate: new marker for neuroendocrine cells?

Zaviacic M, Ruzickova M, Blazekova J, Zaviacic T, Itoh Y, Okutani R, Kawai T.

Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava,

Slovakia. Using rabbit polyclonal antiurinary protein 1 antibody to study the

female prostate (Skene's gland) and the male prostate, characteristic

localizations patterns appeared in single cells and groups of cells. The

majority

correspond to cells positive for neuroendocrine markers. In the cytoplasm, cells

positive for protein 1 were most frequently found in the epithelial lining of

the

female urethra, in the pars prostatica of the male urethra, and in the ducts of

the female and male prostate where the lining consisted of pseudostratified

columnar epithelium. Their occurrence rate was far lower among secretory and

basal cells of the male and female prostate glands. The cells with protein 1

corresponded to those displaying positivity for chromogranin A, silver staining

by the Grimelius and less by the Sevier-Munger method, and by neuron specific

enolase. Using the Masson-Hamperl argentaffin method, positive cells were

only exceptionally found. The cells positive for protein 1, and particularly

chromogranin A, and characterized by Grimelius positivity, contained different

amounts of neuroendocrine granules and varied in size and shape. The majority

of these cells had contact with the lumen of male and female prostatic ducts

(open type of neuroendocrine cells). In some cases of the male and female

urethra and of the great paraurethral ducts, a remarkably high number of cells

containing protein 1 corresponded to cells only containing neuron-specific

enolase but not chromogranin A and other neuroendocrine markers. These cells

can be considered stem cells responsible for the renewal of the uroepithelium of

the urethra and prostatic ducts. Protein 1 may thus be a further, though

presumably not specific marker for the identification of cells of the

neuroendocrine system in the prostate of the male and female. This marker

could well be used to study uroepithelium maturation. The corresponding

immunohistochemical distribution of human protein 1 in neuroendocrine and

other cells of the male and the female prostate provides another analogous

functional and morphological parameter of prostatic tissue in both sexes and

further evidence supporting the non-vestigial concept of the prostate in the

female. PMID: 9381910 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

11: Gynecol Oncol. 1995 Dec;59(3):352-7. Female urethral adenocarcinoma:

evidence for more than one tissue of origin? Dodson MK, Cliby WA, Pettavel

PP, Keeney GL, Podratz KC. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo

Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. Adenocarcinoma of the female

urethra accounts for 10% of all urethral cancers. Controversy continues to exist

over the origin of primary urethral adenocarcinomas. The periurethral (Skene's)

glands appear to be the homologues of the male prostate as defined by authors

evaluating cadaver-derived periurethral glands pathologically and

immunohistochemically (prostate-specific antigen (PSA)). It is traditionally

assumed that the origin of female urethral adenocarcinoma is the Skene's

gland. However, no one has evaluated a series of primary urethral

adenocarcinomas in an effort to scrutinize this assumption. We, therefore,

evaluated 13 primary adenocarcinomas of the female urethra comparing

histologic and immunohistochemical characteristics. Tumors were classified

into two major histologic groups: columnar/mucinous (11) and clear cell (2).

Excluding one case, the columnar/mucinous tumors resembled either

endometrial or colonic adenocarcinoma. The exception was a case bearing a

striking resemblance to prostatic adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical

results revealed positive PSA staining for this tumor alone. The patient's

preoperative serum PSA was elevated, but rapidly declined postoperatively.

Based on immunohistochemical findings and the presence of distinct histologic

subtypes (columnar/mucinous, clear cell), it appears that female urethral

adenocarcinoma has more than one tissue of origin with a minority arising from

the Skene's glands. PMID: 8522254 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

12: Bratisl Lek Listy. 1994 Nov;95(11):491-7. [The significance of prostate

markers in the orthology of the female prostate] [Article in Slovak] Zaviacic M,

Ruzickova M, Jakubovsky J, Danihel L, Babal P, Blazekova J. Ustav

patologickej anatomie LFUK, Bratislava, Slovakia. In addition to knowledge

gained in the first half of the 8th decade, the evidence of cross-antigenicity

between male prostate and Skene's glands by means of PSA and PSAcP

demonstrations in Skene's glands and ducts justifies utilization of the term

prostate in both sexes. The authors compared the results of

immunohistochemical examination of prostatic markers by means of the PAP

method which was used at the beginning of the 8th decade, with that of BSAP

technique. Prostatic tissues of 11 females and children at the age ranging from

5-71 years were examined. The results gained by means of the BSAP method

were identical with those gained by means of the PAP method. Prostatic

markers PSA and PSAcP were expressed on the surface and in apical

cytoplasm of cells lining the prostatic ducts, and in prostatic glands. The

authors proved the expression also in membranes of the stratified cylindrical

epithelial cells of the ducts, and in female prostatic fluid in ducts and

glands,

especially PSAcP. Even though both immunohistochemical methods brought

identical results, the authors recommend to prefer the BSAP method to the

PAP method due to optically more contrast expression. (Fig. 8, Ref. 36.) PMID:

7533639 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

13: Gynecol Oncol. 1994 Nov;55(2):304-7. Skene's gland adenocarcinoma

with increased serum level of prostate-specific antigen. Dodson MK, Cliby WA,

Keeney GL, Peterson MF, Podratz KC. Department of Obstetrics and

Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905. Skene's (periurethral)

gland carcinoma is a rare neoplasm accounting for less than 0.003% of all

genital tract malignancies in females. Generally, adenocarcinomas of the

female urethra are assumed to arise from the periurethral glands, the female

homologue of the prostate. A case of Skene's gland adenocarcinoma without

mucosal urethral involvement is presented. The histologic features of this tumor

closely resembled those of prostatic adenocarcinoma. In contrast, clear cell

and columnar/mucinous variants of female urethral adenocarcinomas have been

described previously. Perhaps this signifies different biologic processes in the

development of Skene's/periurethral and urethral adenocarcinomas in females.

Additionally, we performed immunohistochemical staining that was reactive for

prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Preoperatively, the serum level of PSA was

increased and promptly decreased after surgical excision of the lesion.

Therefore, preoperative and postoperative monitoring of serum PSA titers in

patients with adenocarcinomas of the female urethra or periurethral glands (or

both) should be considered. Publication Types: Case Reports PMID: 7525428

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

14: Cesk Psychiatr. 1994 Apr;90(2):71-7. [Orgasmic expulsions in women]

[Article in Czech] Kratochvil S. Psychiatricka nemocnice Kromeriz, Vaclav

Klima. Orgasm is in some women accompanied by the release of fluid from the

external genitalia. This fluid can sometimes eject under pressure and thus

resemble male ejaculation. It may presumably originate in the vagina, in the

bladder (orgastic urination) or in the paraurethral (Skene's) glands, labeled by

some authors as the female prostate. Analysis of the fluid samples showed it

to be urine, secretion of Skene's glands or a mixture of both. The relationship

of

these expulsions to the stimulation of the vaginal G spot has been reported.

Zaviacic et al. (1988) established in female volunteers undergoing digital

stimulation of the G spot that in some women there is no expulsion, in some

there is expulsion accompanied by orgasm and in some expulsions occur

easily without orgasm or even without sexual arousal. Our own findings are

based on the use of the sexological questionnaire SGZ, which contains items

concerning the occurrence of " release of fluid " during orgasm or of " expulsion

of

fluid, similarly as in male ejaculation " . We obtained data from 200 women

treated for the neurosis and from 100 female health professionals and

counselors. Organistic expulsions resembling male ejaculation were reported in

6% of both samples. Additional 13% had at least some experience with such

expulsions. Release of fluid without ejaculation was reported by approximately

60% of females in both samples. We consider " female ejaculation " to be a rare

phenomenon, which nevertheless deserves attention in sexological

consultations. It should not cause feelings of shame, but should be accepted

as a normal part of female sexual reaction. PMID: 8004685 [PubMed - indexed

for MEDLINE]

15: Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol. 1993;423(6):503-5. Prostate

specific antigen and prostate specific acid phosphatase in adenocarcinoma of

Skene's paraurethral glands and ducts. Zaviacic M, Sidlo J, Borovsky M.

Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava,

Slovakia. An autopsy case of adenocarcinoma of Skene's paraurethral gland co-

incident with renal cell carcinoma is described. The adenocarcinoma showed

distinct prostate specific antigen and prostate specific acid phosphatase

pointing to the equivalence between the male prostate and Skene's paraurethral

glands and ducts. Skene's gland are the homologue of the prostate in females

and tumours arising from them are immunohistochemically similar to male

prostate carcinoma. Publication Types: Case Reports PMID: 7507278 [PubMed

- indexed for MEDLINE]

16: Teratology. 1992 Mar;45(3):235-9. Benign cystic ovarian teratomas with

prostatic tissue: a report of two cases. Uzoaru I, Akang EE, Aghadiuno PU,

Nadimpalli VR. Division of Pathology, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois

60612. We report two cases of the rare occurrence of prostatic epithelium in

ovarian teratomas with associated transitional epithelium in one of the cases.

This association of prostatic tissue with urothelium tends to reinforce the

well-

established embryogenetic derivation of the prostate from the urogenital sinus.

Local hormonal events may influence the formation of prostatic tissue from

female urothelium. The histologic and immunohistological differences between

adult prostate as seen in our cases and female paraurethral (Skene's) glands

are discussed. Publication Types: Case Reports PMID: 1631777 [PubMed -

indexed for MEDLINE]

17: Cesk Gynekol. 1985 Jun;50(5):372-7. [The female prostate or Skene's

glands and ducts? (Reasons for returning to De Graaf's original term)] [Article

in

Slovak] Zaviacic M, Zaviacicova A, Brozman M, Holoman IK, Bruchac D,

Oberucova J, Kokavec M. PMID: 4017002 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

18: Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1984 May;108(5):423-5. Homology between the

female paraurethral (Skene's) glands and the prostate. Immunohistochemical

demonstration. Tepper SL, Jagirdar J, Heath D, Geller SA. Homology between

female paraurethral glands and the prostate has often been suggested. A

means was developed that would lend histochemical support to this

hypothesis. Female urethra from autopsy and surgical material was serially

sectioned and studied in 19 patients ranging in age from newborn to 86 years.

Paraurethral glands were identified in 18 of these. The tissue was stained with

antibodies to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific acid

phosphatase (PSAcPh) using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Of those

cases in which paraurethral glands were seen, 83% were positive for PSA and

67% for PSAcPh. Intensity of staining was semi-quantitatively evaluated. In

addition, intraluminal secretions and urethral columnar epithelium showed

positive enzyme and antigen staining. There was no discernible variation of

glandular development or pattern of staining with patient age. This study

demonstrates the homologous nature of the female paraurethral glands and the

prostate and supports speculations about functional similarity. PMID: 6546868

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Best regards,

Email: <

WORK : Teagasc Research Management, Sandymount Ave., Dublin 4, Ireland

Mobile: 353-; [in the Republic: 0]

HOME : 1 Esker Lawns, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland

Tel : 353-; [in the Republic: 0]

WWW : http://homepage.eircom.net/~progers/searchap.htm

Chinese Proverb: " Man who says it can't be done, should not interrupt man doing

it "

August 30, 2004

Sorry Phil, but I find your arguments unconvincing hair splitting. The prostate

is the prostate, just as the lungs are the lungs. They may be made of two or

more lobes but they are one organ. You quoted extensively below trying to

justify a belief that Skene's gland are the female equivalent of the prostate.

Did you read this quote before you cut and pasted it:

> The prostatic utricle, a homologue to the vagina and uterus in the female,

I do not think I need to continue with this thread. Incidentally I am not

suggesting females do not ejaculate on orgasm. I merely interjected on the point

of anatomic homology of the prostate-uterus.

Sammy.

-

Chinese Medicine

Monday, August 30, 2004 4:54 PM