Figure 1.
Histology of un-implanted human fetal prostate tissue. Prostate tissues at 15, 19, and 22 weeks demonstrate the normal growth and progression of the stromal and epithelial compartments. Epithelial tissue originates as a mass of cells at gestational week 15, which forms solid buds encompassed by smooth muscle and connective tissue by 19 weeks gestation. These solid buds further mature and canalize in a proximal to distal manner by gestational week 22, a process that continues throughout fetal prostate development. Asterisk (*) shows a well-developed duct with lumen. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining; scale bar 100 μm.