Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BACKGROUND: Inhibitors of 5 alpha reductase (5 alpha R), the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), have been shown to retard the growth of hyperplastic prostates. This study evaluates the effects of the 5 alpha R inhibitor, epristeride, on cultured stromal and epithelial cells from benign, hyperplastic adult prostates. METHODS: [3H]-thymidine incorporation was used as a measure of proliferation. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was quantified by ELISA and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Stromal cell proliferation in response to testosterone was dose-dependently inhibited by epristeride (1 x 10(-9) -3 x 10(-7) M, P < 0.05). However, epristeride had no effect on DHT-induced growth or the growth of androgen-unresponsive stroma. Upregulation of PSA secretion from epithelial cells by androgens was downregulated by epristeride (3 x 10(-9) M, P < 0.05) in testosterone-treated cells. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta-1) secretion was downregulated by testosterone treatment and increased following treatment with epristeride (3 x 10(-9) M, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This demonstrates that epristeride specifically blocks testosterone-induced effects on prostatic cultures. TGF beta-1 may be a marker of 5 alpha reductase activity.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Prostate

Publication Date

01/09/1997

Volume

32

Pages

259 - 265

Keywords

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors, Adult, Androstadienes, Cell Division, Cells, Cultured, Dihydrotestosterone, Enzyme Inhibitors, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Epithelium, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Prostate, Prostate-Specific Antigen, Prostatectomy, Prostatic Hyperplasia, RNA, Messenger, Testosterone, Thymidine, Transcription, Genetic, Transforming Growth Factor beta