Co-localization of androgen receptor with estrogen receptor beta in the lower urinary tract of the male rat.
OBJECTIVE
Androgens and estrogens influence voiding. In this study their target sites in the lower urinary tract of the male rat were identified.


METHODS
Cryosections of the bladder body, bladder neck, prostatic urethra, mid proximal urethra and prostatic autonomic ganglia of adult male rats were immunostained with specific estrogen receptor alpha, estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) or androgen receptor (AR) antibodies. The sections were then examined under conventional, fluorescence or confocal fluorescence microscopy.


RESULTS
Co-expression of AR and ERbeta in the urothelium, bladder smooth muscle cells, proximal urethra striated muscle cells and neurons in the autonomic ganglia of the prostatic plexus suggests that estrogen and androgen have direct effects in the lower urinary tract.


CONCLUSIONS
The local interaction of AR and ERbeta in the hormonal control of voiding is an intriguing possibility.
Salmi
S
S
Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Santti
R
R
Gustafsson
J A
JA
Mäkelä
S
S
D000818:Animals; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry; D011467:Prostate / Q000294:innervation; D051381:Rats; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000032:analysis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D014521:Urethra / Q000737:chemistry*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000737:chemistry*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000737:chemistry
D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen