Prostatitis in the rat.

A high incidence of spontaneous, non-acute, age-dependent prostatitis was observed in the lateral prostate of Copenhagen rats and Wistar rats. The lumen of infected acini was filled with polymorphonuclear leucocytes, shed epithelial cells and cell residues. Epithelial cells lining such acini showed degenerative changes. Lymphocytes and macrophages were seen in the stroma. A histochemically observed increase in acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase activity in affected epithelial cells may indicate an increased lysosomal activity. Some bacteriological cultures of infected lateral prostates were positive for Proteus vulgaris and diphtheroids. It is suggested that this spontaneous rat prostatitis may be a useful model for the study of the pathogenesis and treatment of human non-acute prostatitis.