ARTICLE

Effects of Estradiol on Prostate Epithelial Cells in the Castrated Rat

Correspondence to: G. Pelletier, Oncology and Molecular Endocrinology Research Center, Laval University Hospital (CHUL), 2705 Laurier Boulevard, Quebec, PQ G1V 4G2, Canada. E-mail: georges.pelletier@crchul.ulaval.ca

There is evidence that estrogens can modulate the activity of prostate epithelial cells. To determine whether estradiol can have a direct influence on rat prostate, this study examined the effects of estradiol-17ß (E₂) administered alone or in combination with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to castrated rats for 3 weeks on prostate binding protein (PBP) C1 mRNA expression and androgen receptor (AR) localization. PBP C1 mRNA levels were measured by semi-quantitative in situ hybridization using a ³⁵S-labeled cDNA probe. In intact animals, strong hybridization signal could be observed in prostate sections after 12 hr of exposure to Kodak X-Omat films. In castrated rats, no PBP C1 mRNA could be detected even with longer exposure times, an effect that was prevented by administration of DHT. E₂ administered alone induced a detectable hybridization signal, and the concomitant administration of E₂ and DHT induced an increase in PBP C1 mRNA that significantly exceeded that obtained in animals that received only DHT. In prostate epithelial cells of intact animals, AR immunostaining was restricted to the nucleus. In castrated animals the alveoli were decreased in size and the epithelial cells were atrophied. AR staining was weak and was detected in both cytoplasm and nucleus. DHT administration completely obviated the effect of castration on epithelial cell histology and on AR immunostaining distribution and intensity. Interestingly, E₂ administration alone induced moderate hypertrophy of epithelial cells compared to the histological appearance of cells in untreated castrated rats. Moreover, in E₂-treated animals the nuclear staining was much stronger than that detected in untreated castrated rats, whereas the cytoplasmic staining was not modified by the treatment. In animals that received both DHT and E₂, the staining was similar to that seen in DHT-treated rats. These results suggest that E₂ can influence the activity of rat prostate epithelial cells by mechanisms that remain to be fully clarified.

(J Histochem Cytochem 50:1517–1523, 2002)

Key Words: prostrate, estrogens, androgen receptor, prostate steroid-binding, protein, in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Takase, M.-H. Levesque, V. Luu-The, M. El-Alfy, F. Labrie, and G. Pelletier Expression of Enzymes Involved in Estrogen Metabolism in Human Prostate J. Histochem. Cytochem., August 1, 2006; 54(8): 911 - 921. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Pelletier, V. Luu-The, S. Li, and F. Labrie Localization of Type 8 17{beta}-hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase mRNA in Mouse Tissues as Studied by In Situ Hybridization J. Histochem. Cytochem., October 1, 2005; 53(10): 1257 - 1271. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G Pelletier, V Luu-The, S Li, L Ren, and F Labrie Localization of 17{beta}-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 mRNA in mouse tissues J. Mol. Endocrinol., October 1, 2004; 33(2): 459 - 465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H.-C. Han, K. J. Austin, P. W. Nathanielsz, S. P. Ford, M. J. Nijland, and T. R. Hansen Maternal nutrient restriction alters gene expression in the ovine fetal heart J. Physiol., July 1, 2004; 558(1): 111 - 121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Guidelines | Subscriptions | About | exPRESS - Current - Archive | Business Information | Contact

The Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry is owned, published, and licensed by The Histochemical Society © 2002