['To analyze cell viability and morphology of primary cell cultures from CD133 immunolabeled and sorted cells from epithelium of patients suffering from benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).', 'Cells obtained from 5 patients were divided in two fractions. First fraction (CD133+/CD133-) was cultivated in DMEM with 10% FBS. Second fraction was mixed with CD133 microbeads and immunomagnetically divided into CD133+ and CD133- fractions. These cells were cultivated and followed-up for 2 weeks. Cells were stained for Annexin V FITC/propidium iodide.', 'Seventy CD133+/CD133- cultures, thirty-one of CD133+ and thirty-one of CD133- cells were established. There were 5-fold and 3-fold increase of CD133+/CD133- and CD133+ cell number after 2 weeks, respectively. CD133+/CD133- and CD133+ monolayers displayed epithelial-like morphology and cytokeratine expression. CD133- cultures collapsed. Cell viability within CD133+ and CD133- populations was 90.1-/+6.3% and 24.3-/+6.2%, respectively. Apoptotic index was 9.0-/+6.1% and 28.5-/+23.8% within CD133+ and CD133- cultures, respectively.'] Are progenitor cells responsible for formation of human prostate epithelium primary cultures?