Collagen and Cellular Proliferation in Spontaneous Canine Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

Towards defining an animal model for study of cellular as well as extracellular matrix accumulation in human benign hypertrophy (BPH), cell number and levels of collagen and zinc were measured in normal and spontaneously hypertrophied canine prostate glands. The increased gland weight in canine BPH was accompanied by increased contents of DNA, collagen and zinc. Concentrations of collagen and zinc in BPH did not differ from normal. These findings indicate that canine BPH involves true hyperplasia and may represent an overgrowth of normal cellular and extracellular components. Canine BPH may prove to be a useful animal model for study not only of cellular proliferation, but also of the connective tissue and zinc accumulation in the human disease.