[Studies on sex hormone-binding globulin in the prostate].

OBJECTIVE

To assay the existence of SHBG in prostatic tissue and analyze the effects of SHBG on the prostate and prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODS

Prostate tissue cytosolic and nuclear fractions were obtained from 32 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 11 cases of elderly control, and 22 cases of the normal young and middle-aged. SHBG in cytosol and nucleus was evaluated by two-site immunoradiometric assay based on the 125I-labelled monoclonal antibody.

RESULTS

The study testified the existence of SHBG in the cytosol of prostatic tissue. SHBG in BPH tissue [(5.11 +/- 1.37) fmol/g wet tissue] was a little more than that in the young and middle-aged group [(4.98 +/- 1.39) fmol/g wet tissue] and the elderly group [(5.06 +/- 1.27) fmol/g wet tissue], but there was no significance among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SHBG in the prostate can bind and accumlate androgen, which is related to prostatic physiology and contributes to the etiology of BPH.