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Progressive prostate hyperplasia in adult prolactin transgenic mice is not dependent on elevated serum androgen levels
Author(s) -
Kindblom Jon,
Dillner Karin,
Ling Charlotte,
Törnell Jan,
Wennbo Håkan
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.10113
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , prostate , testosterone (patch) , androgen , androgen receptor , hyperplasia , prolactin , biology , transgene , prostate cancer , hormone , cancer , biochemistry , gene
BACKGROUND Transgenic mice overexpressing the rat prolactin (PRL) gene under control of the metallothionein‐1 promoter (Mt‐1) develop a dramatic prostatic enlargement. These animals also display significantly elevated testosterone serum levels. In this study, we aim to clarify the role of circulating androgen levels in the promotion of abnormal prostate growth in the adult PRL transgenic mouse prostate. METHODS Prostate morphology and androgen‐receptor distribution patterns were analyzed in castrated and testosterone substituted adult PRL transgenic and in wild‐type males. RESULTS Progressive prostatic hyperplasia in adult PRL transgenic males was not affected by substitution to serum testosterone levels corresponding to wild‐type. Furthermore, prolonged testosterone treatment in adult wild‐type males did not produce any significant changes in prostate growth or morphology compared with wild‐type controls. Immunohistochemical studies revealed a significantly increased proportion of androgen receptor positive epithelial cells in all lobes of the PRL transgenic prostate versus wild‐type. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrates that progressive prostate hyperplasia in adult PRL transgenic mice is not dependent on elevated serum androgen levels. Furthermore, prolonged androgen treatment in adult wild‐type male mice appears to have no significant effect on prostate growth. In addition, our results suggest that prolonged hyperprolactinemia results in changes in prostate epithelial and stromal cell androgen receptor distribution. Prostate 53: 24–33, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.