Pharmacological effects of the lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) on rat prostate hyperplasia induced by hyperprolactinemia: comparison with finasteride.
BACKGROUND
The growth of the prostate gland is mainly dependent on androgens. Other hormones, like prolactin (PRL), also influence prostate development. Our purpose was to analyze and compare the effects of two drugs (5alpha-reductase inhibitor) used in the therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia: lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens (LSESR), and finasteride in an in vivo model of rat prostate hyperplasia induced by hyperprolactinemia.


METHODS
Hyperprolactinemia was induced by 30 daily injections of sulpiride. Wistar rats received daily gavages of LSESR or finasteride. We used the following groups: control, castrated, castrated with a substitute testosterone (T), or 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) implant.


RESULTS
Hyperprolactinemia increases the wet weight and induces hyperplasia in the lateral prostate (LP). Unlike finasteride, LSESR significantly reduced LP growth and hyperplasia in castrated, DHT-implanted, and sulpiride-treated rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Finasteride was only capable of inhibiting the effect of androgens on rat prostate enlargement. LSESR inhibited not only the androgenic but also the trophic effect of PRL in rat LP hyperplasia.
Van Coppenolle
F
F
Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire, USTL, INSERM EPI 9938, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France. fvancopp@pop.univ-lille1.fr
Le Bourhis
X
X
Carpentier
F
F
Delaby
G
G
Cousse
H
H
Raynaud
J P
JP
Dupouy
J P
JP
Prevarskaya
N
N
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018120:Finasteride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D028024:Serenoa
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018120:Finasteride; C040972:saw palmetto extract