[Immunohistochemistry of cytokeratins in prostate tissue as a possible sensitive method for the screening of veal calves treated with anabolic estrogens]

For the detection of veal calves treated illegally with oestrogenic anabolics, histological examination of the prostate is carried out in the Netherlands. As a result of the effect of oestrogens, basal cells in the prostate proliferate and develop into (squamous) metaplastic tissue. In the present study, immunohistochemistry using antibodies to cytokeratins was used as a more sensitive and specific method to detect oestrogen-induced lesions. Prostate glands of two young bulls serving as controls and of two oxen treated with 17 beta-oestradiol and trenbolone-acetate were examined by an immunoperoxidase technique. The results suggest satisfactory immunoreactivity of the polyclonal cytokeratin antiserum K40 and particularly of the monoclonal cytokeratin antibody RCK103 for basal cells as well as for metaplastic and even hyperplastic 'suspected' lesions in the prostate of the treated animals. A more detailed study of this promising method is essential.