The prostate gland is a unique object for studying inter-tissue interactions, since both parenchyma and prostate stroma have heterogeneous origin from different embryonic rudiments. However, the data on the peculiarities of the morphogenesis of the glandular formations and the fibro-muscular stroma of the prostate gland in the human fetus remain fragmentary, which determines the topicality of the problem and the necessity for its solution. The purpose of the study was to elucidate the features of the development of the prostate glandular formations and fibro-muscle stroma in 8-10- month-old human fetuses. Material and methods. The study involved 24 series of histological and topographic anatomical sections of the prostate gland of human male with 271.0-375.0 mm of crown-rump length using microscopy and morphometry methods. Results and discussion. The obtained results showed that the most glandular formations of the prostate gland (prostate) opened in the prostate (prostatic) part of the male urethra, directly below the prostate gland (prostatic utricle) and distal parts of the ejaculation ducts (digestive ducts). The quantitative changes in the glandular formations of the prostate gland, which open on the posterior, anterior and lateral walls of the male prostatic urethra, were also established. The most numerous were glandular formations that branch out in the thickness of the lateral portions of the posterior wall of the prostatic urethra, varying from 37 to 49. The glandular formations on the anterior wall of the prostatic urethra, as a rule were not big, ascending, and there were 10-16 of them. The glandular formations on the lateral walls of the male prostatic urethra were represented by glandular ducts that arose from the epithelium of the urethral lateral furrows; their number did not significantly change with the age of the fetus, nor showed any signs of their reduction. During 8-10 months of fetal development, only an increase in the size of the glandular formations of the lateral walls of the prostatic urethra and the formation of branches, remained chordae without lumens almost throughout their length. At the end of the fetal development period, there occurred an intensive development of the fibro-muscle stroma of the prostate gland, which was manifested in the increase in the number of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle fibers. Conclusions. Glandular formations in 8-10- month-old human fetuses opening on the posterior and lateral walls of the prostatic urethra, constituted the bulk and the largest number of glands of the prostate gland. In this case, there was no increase in their number with the growth of the fetus. The glandular formations, which opened on the anterior wall of the prostatic urethra, were small in size. The glandular formations located in the region of the apex of the prostate gland were predominantly horizontal or somewhat ascending and penetrate into the outer muscular layer of the wall, placed between the individual bundles of the latter. The back group of the prostate glands was unevenly distributed and unevenly developed. The glandular formations that opened in the prostatic urethra below the ejaculation ducts were better developed. In the 8th and 10th months of fetal development, the development of the glandular formations of the prostate gland got activated, which manifested itself in increasing their number. At the end of the fetal development period, there was an intensive development of the fibro-muscular stroma of the prostate gland. Connective fibers and smooth muscle bundles distinguished between the glandular formations of the prostate gland and their excretory ducts
Keywords: prostate, prostatic urethra, morphogenesis, fetus, human
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