Androgen-dependent morphology of prostates and seminal vesicles in the Hershberger Assay: Evaluation of immunohistochemical and morphometric parameters

The aim of this study was to evaluate androgen-like effects using immunohistochemical and morphometric methods. Therefore, orchiectomized Wistar rats (n ≥ 13) were treated s.c. with 1 mg/kg bw/day testosterone propionate (TP) for 7 days and compared to orchiectomized rats without TP substitution (OX...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of anatomy 2004-06, Vol.186 (3), p.247-253
Main Authors: Nishino, Tsuyuki, Wedel, Thilo, Schmitt, Oliver, Bühlmeyer, Katja, Schönfelder, Martin, Hirtreiter, Christian, Schulz, Thorsten, Kühnel, Wolfgang, Michna, Horst
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Androgen receptor
Androgenic reactions
Androgens - immunology
Animals
Densitometry
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Morphometry
Orchiectomy
Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen - analysis
Proliferation markers
Prostate
Prostate - cytology
Prostate - drug effects
Rats
Rats, Wistar - anatomy & histology
Seminal vesicle
Seminal Vesicles - cytology
Seminal Vesicles - drug effects
Testosterone - pharmacology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The aim of this study was to evaluate androgen-like effects using immunohistochemical and morphometric methods. Therefore, orchiectomized Wistar rats (n ≥ 13) were treated s.c. with 1 mg/kg bw/day testosterone propionate (TP) for 7 days and compared to orchiectomized rats without TP substitution (OX) and to an untreated intact control group. Sections obtained from prostates and seminal vesicles were stained with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against the androgen receptor (AR) and assessed densitometrically (intensity of the immunoreaction) and morphometrically (epithelial height, luminal area). TP caused an enhancement of staining intensity and an increase in organ weights, epithelial height and luminal area. The use of proliferation markers (PCNA, MIB-5) showed also a highly significant increase of immunoreactive cells in TP-substituted orchiectomized rats compared with the OX group. Based on the present data, the densitometric analysis of AR-immunoreactivity as well as the assessment of proliferation markers, epithelial height and luminal area proved to be sensitive parameters for the evaluation of androgen effects on prostates and seminal vesicles. In further studies these parameters will be used to test several industrial xenooestrogens as well as phytooestrogens on their possible androgenic capacity.
ISSN:0940-9602
1618-0402
DOI:10.1016/S0940-9602(04)80011-6