Santos Fernanda C A, Leite Rodrigo P, Custódio Ana M G, Carvalho Karina P, Monteiro-Leal Luiz H, Santos Adriana B, Góes Rejane M, Carvalho Hernandes F, Taboga Sebastião R
Department of Cell Biology, State University of Campinas, 13083-863 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Biol Reprod. 2006 Sep;75(3):370-9. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.106.051789. Epub 2006 May 17.
The prostate of the female gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is similar to the human female prostate (Skene gland) and, despite its reduced size, it is functional and shows secretory activity. However, virtually nothing is known about its physiological regulation. This study was thus undertaken to evaluate the behavior of the gerbil female prostate in a hyperandrogenic condition. Adult females received subcutaneous injections of testosterone cypionate (1 mg/kg body weight every 48 h) up to 21 days. Circulating levels of testosterone and estradiol were monitored, and the prostate and ovaries subjected to structural and immunocytochemical analyses. The treatment resulted in sustained high levels of circulating testosterone, and caused a transient increase in estradiol. There was an increase in epithelial cell proliferation accompanied by significant reorganization of the epithelium and an apparent reduction in secretory activity, followed by a progressive increase in luminal volume density and accumulation of secretory products. Immunocytochemistry identified the expression of androgen receptor and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-related antigen in prostatic epithelial cells. A circulating PSA-related antigen was also found, and its concentration showed strong negative correlation with circulating estrogen. Epithelial dysplasia was detected in the prostate of treated females. Analysis of the ovaries showed the occurrence of a polycystic condition and stromal cell hyperplasia. The results indicate that testosterone has a stimulatory effect on the female prostate, inducing epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation, secretory activity, and dysplasia. The results also suggest that prostatic growth and activity, polycystic ovaries, and ovarian stromal cell hyperplasia are related to a hyperandrogenic condition in females.
雌性沙鼠（长爪沙鼠）的前列腺与人类女性前列腺（斯基恩氏腺）相似，尽管其体积较小，但仍具有功能并表现出分泌活性。然而，关于其生理调节几乎一无所知。因此，本研究旨在评估沙鼠雌性前列腺在高雄激素状态下的行为。成年雌性沙鼠每48小时皮下注射环戊丙酸睾酮（1毫克/千克体重），持续21天。监测睾酮和雌二醇的循环水平，并对前列腺和卵巢进行结构和免疫细胞化学分析。治疗导致循环睾酮持续高水平，并引起雌二醇短暂升高。上皮细胞增殖增加，伴有上皮的显著重组和分泌活性明显降低，随后管腔体积密度逐渐增加和分泌产物积累。免疫细胞化学鉴定出前列腺上皮细胞中雄激素受体和前列腺特异性抗原（PSA）相关抗原的表达。还发现了循环中的PSA相关抗原，其浓度与循环雌激素呈强烈负相关。在接受治疗的雌性沙鼠的前列腺中检测到上皮发育异常。卵巢分析显示出现多囊状态和基质细胞增生。结果表明，睾酮对雌性前列腺有刺激作用，诱导上皮细胞增殖、分化、分泌活性和发育异常。结果还表明，前列腺生长和活性、多囊卵巢以及卵巢基质细胞增生与女性的高雄激素状态有关。
