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All cloacal-derived tissues contain a similar endocrine cell population. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-like immunoreactivity has been reported in some prostatic endocrine cells. On the other hand, immunoreactivity to alpha-hCG is well known to occur in a variety of extraprostatic endocrine elements. Most cloacal-derived tissues were tested with a panel of monoclonal antibodies against hCG and subunits. The previously described hCG-like positivity was found to be exclusively related to the free alpha-subunit of hCG. Moreover, alpha-chain immunoreactivity was more broadly distributed in most cloacal-derived tissues, including those from the anal canal. In the anal canal, alpha-chain was an excellent marker of the anal transitional zone. alpha-Chain-immunoreactive endocrine cells were normal and nonneoplastic constituents of these tissues; they corresponded to a subpopulation of serotonin cells. In addition, certain prostatic argyrophil cell carcinomas might be exclusively alpha-subunit producing.

Calcitonin- and serotonin-storing cells have been immunocharacterized in prostate gland, urethra, urinary bladder and anal canal. In addition, a few hCG and somatostatin immunoreactive cells have been detected in prostate gland. All these cells were dispersed throughout the epithelial lining. In the anal canal, calcitonin cells were exclusively confined to the anal ducts and anal transitional zone epithelium. Calcitonin and serotonin cells were seen in some examples of prostatic adenocarcinoma. Combined techniques most often showed coexistence of calcitonin and serotonin immunoreactivities in the same endocrine cell. hCG immunoreactive cells corresponded to a subpopulation of serotonin-, calcitonin-storing cells. Calcitonin and serotonin cells were present in most organs which originated from the cloaca. In this territory, this distinctive endocrine pattern could be regarded as an excellent marker of cloacal derived tissues. These tissues constitute an additional site for extrathyroid C-cells. It is likely that calcitonin cells are a component of some prostatic adenocarcinomas.