Cellular and extracellular behavior in the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) ventral prostate following different types of castration and the consequences of testosterone replacement

Cell Biol Int. 2007 Mar;31(3):235-45. doi: 10.1016/j.cellbi.2006.10.006. Epub 2006 Oct 18.

Abstract

Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were grouped into two experimental groups: GEx.01 suffered orchiectomy and after 30 days received doses of testosterone cipionate (T), while GEx.02 received weekly and alternated doses of the anti-androgens cyproterone acetate and flutamide for 30 days, and the animals were then euthanized. Structural evaluation reveals a more intense reduction in epithelial height in GEx.02. Smooth muscle cells (SMC) presented a star-shaped aspect after 30 days of hormonal ablation and basal membrane was shown to be more intensely grooved in GEx.01. In both groups, after hormonal replacement, recovery in epithelial height could be noted and the SMC presented its phenotypes, but an increase in RER was seen, characterizing a modulation from its contractile to secreting phenotype. In conclusion, the prostate presented involution capacity after androgen ablation and the ability to reorganize after hormonal replacement, but events resulting from orchiectomy and subsequent T replacement were shown to be more aggressive to the prostate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acid Phosphatase
  • Androgen Antagonists / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Cyproterone
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough / ultrastructure
  • Endothelium / ultrastructure
  • Flutamide
  • Gerbillinae
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Orchiectomy* / methods
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Prostate / drug effects
  • Prostate / growth & development
  • Prostate / metabolism
  • Prostate / pathology*
  • Prostatic Hyperplasia / chemically induced
  • Prostatic Hyperplasia / metabolism
  • Prostatic Hyperplasia / pathology*
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / metabolism
  • Receptors, Androgen / drug effects
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Testosterone / administration & dosage*
  • Testosterone / blood

Substances

  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Testosterone
  • Flutamide
  • Cyproterone
  • Acid Phosphatase
  • prostatic acid phosphatase
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases