title: Collagen and the proliferation and differentiation of rat ventral prostate epithelial cells.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if a cause-and-effect relationship exists between androgen-induced changes in collagen and epithelial cell proliferation and/or differentiation in rat ventral prostate. Analyses of the temporal relationship between dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced changes in the synthesis and levels of collagen in the regressed ventral prostates of adult castrates demonstrated that, during the first 7 days of restoration of prostatic growth, androgen increased the synthesis as well as the degradation of collagen. Cis-hydroxyproline (CHP) treatment (2-200 mg/kg) during the first 7 days of androgen-stimulated prostatic growth, combined with maintenance of animals on a proline-free diet, produced a dose-dependent reduction in prostate weight and DNA content to a maximum of 50%. The epithelium was characterized by numerous disorganized layers of irregularly shaped and tightly packed cells, many of which had no contact with the basal lamina. There was a loss of epithelial lamina lucida and the development of a ragged lamina densa. Cis-hydroxyproline effects were reversible in that, following cessation of CHP treatment, the perturbed morphology, DNA content, and organ weight returned to the range of DHT-treated controls. Collagenous components seem to be important in supporting the normal androgen-dependent proliferation and differentiation of prostatic epithelial cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004848:Epithelium; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011467:Prostate / Q000032:analysis* / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D051381:Rats / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D003094:Collagen; D006909:Hydroxyproline