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Progesterone as a morphological regulatory factor of the male and female gerbil prostate
Author(s) -
Fochi Ricardo A.,
Santos Fernanda C. A.,
Goes Rejane M.,
Taboga Sebastião R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of experimental pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.671
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1365-2613
pISSN - 0959-9673
DOI - 10.1111/iep.12050
Subject(s) - hyperplasia , endocrinology , testosterone (patch) , medicine , prostate , muscle hypertrophy , androgen , castration , androgen receptor , biology , stromal cell , cyproterone acetate , hormone , prostate cancer , cancer
Summary Testosterone ( T ) and oestrogen are the main active steroid hormones in the male and female reproductive system respectively. In female rodents progesterone ( P 4), together with testosterone and oestrogen, has an essential role in the regulation of the oestrous cycle, which influences the prostate physiology through their oscillations. In this work we investigated how the male and female prostate gland of M ongolian gerbils responds to surgical castration at the start of puberty and what are the effects of T , oestradiol ( E 2) and P 4 replacement, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. We also examined the location of the main steroid receptors present in the prostate. In the castrated animals of both sexes an intense glandular regression, along with disorganization of the stromal compartment, and abundant hyperplasia was observed. The replacement of P 4 secured a mild recovery of the glandular morphology, inducing the growth of secretory cells and restoring the androgen receptor ( AR ) cells. The administration of P 4 and E 2 eliminated epithelial hyperplasia and intensified gland hypertrophy, favouring the emergence of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia ( PIN ). In animals treated with T and P 4, even though there are some inflammatory foci and other lesions, the prostate gland revealed morphology closer to that of control animals. In summary, through the administration of P 4, we could demonstrate that this hormone has anabolic characteristics, promoting hyperplasia and hypertrophy, mainly in the epithelial compartment. When combined with E 2 and T , there is an accentuation of glandular hypertrophy that interrupts the development of hyperplasia and ensures the presence of a less dysplastic glandular morphology.