Immunohistochemical study on the initiation of acid phosphatase secretion in the human prostate. Cytochemistry and biochemistry of acid phosphatases IV.

Acid phosphatase was purified from human prostatic tissue and from seminal plasma. Antisera to antigens from both sources were raised in rabbits. These antisera have been used for immunohistochemical localization of the respective antigens in the prostates of neonatal, infantile, prepubertal, and adult individuals. Immunoreactivity of the prostatic epithelium with the seminal fluid-derived antigen developed progressively in pubertal specimens with increasing age. It was not present in fetal and infantile organs. Antiserum prepared from human prostatic tissue-derived acid phosphatase gave a positive immunoreaction both with stroma and epithelium of the pre- and postpubertal glands. The results give evidence for a clear cut androgen-dependence in the appearance of the acid phosphatase present in semen, which therefore has been identified as secretory. The second antigen is nonsecretory, tissue-bound, nonandrogen dependent, and shares antigenic determinants with leukocyte-derived acid phosphatase.