Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Int J Exp Pathol. 2012 Oct;93(5):354-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2613.2012.00825.x.
Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental pollutant that is highly toxic to the central nervous system. As its effects on male reproductive system are poorly understood, this study was carried out to analyse the effects of MeHg on the rat prostate. To evaluate the MeHg toxicity on ventral prostate, three groups of adult male Wistar rats received oral doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg MeHg, respectively, on a daily basis for 14 days. A fourth group was used as a control. The prostate weight was decreased in rats treated orally with 0.5 mg/kg MeHg compared to controls. Also, Hg concentration increased significantly in the prostate after treatments. There were reductions in serum testosterone levels and androgen receptor immunoreactivity in animals receiving 3.0 mg MeHg/kg. The stereological data showed changes in the prostatic epithelial, stromal and luminal compartments which varied according to the different doses. Histopathological alterations, such as chronic inflammation, stratified epithelial hyperplasia and epithelial inflammatory reactive atypia, were observed in the 0.5 mg/kg MeHg-treated group. Epithelial atrophy was observed in the 3.0 mg/kg MeHg-treated group. In conclusion, the MeHg affects prostatic homoeostasis resulting in histopathological changes that may be relevant in the pathogenesis of prostatic disease.
甲基汞（MeHg）是一种对中枢神经系统具有高度毒性的环境污染物。由于其对男性生殖系统的影响尚未得到充分了解，因此进行了这项研究，以分析 MeHg 对大鼠前列腺的影响。为了评估 MeHg 对前列腺腹侧叶的毒性，三组成年雄性 Wistar 大鼠分别接受 0.5、1.0 和 3.0mg/kg MeHg 的口服剂量，每天一次，持续 14 天。第四组作为对照组。与对照组相比，经口给予 0.5mg/kg MeHg 的大鼠前列腺重量降低。此外，治疗后前列腺中的汞浓度显著增加。接受 3.0mgMeHg/kg 的动物的血清睾酮水平和雄激素受体免疫反应性降低。体视学数据显示，前列腺上皮、基质和管腔室的变化因剂量不同而有所不同。在 0.5mg/kg MeHg 处理组中观察到慢性炎症、分层上皮增生和上皮炎症反应性异型性等组织病理学改变。在 3.0mg/kg MeHg 处理组中观察到上皮萎缩。总之，MeHg 影响前列腺的稳态，导致组织病理学变化，这些变化可能与前列腺疾病的发病机制有关。
