Ultrastructural Localization of the Prostasome - an Organelle in Human Seminal Plasma

Abstract

Secretory granules and vesicles were demonstrated within human prostatic cells and in the acinar lumen. In size and ultrastructure the granules and vesicles were the same as those previously isolated from human prostatic fluid and seminal plasma. “Prostasomes” is suggested as the designation for these secretory granules and vesicles. As a rule they were found in storage vesicles within the secretory cells.

Two mechanisms for translocation of the prostasomes from the cell interior to the acinar lumen are described. One mechanism involves exocytosis with binding of storage vesicles to, and fusion with the plasma membrane, resulting in release of prostasomes directly into the acinar lumen. The other mechanism implies displacement of storage vesicles in toto from the cell interior to the acinar lumen. This process differs from exocytosis and is here designated “diacytosis”. Both phenomena appear to be of roughly equal frequency.