A preliminary study on the possible role for luteinizing hormone in androgen independent growth of prostate.
The recent observation that LH receptors are found in the prostate and that LH can execute a mitogenic role in addition to its well documented role in stimulation of steroidogenesis prompted the evaluation of the role of LH in regulation of prostate growth. The results obtained in the present study reveal the presence of LH receptor transcript as well as receptor protein in the rat prostate. The LH receptor appears to be localized in the non-secretory epithelial cells of the prostate as assessed by I(125) LH binding and immunofluorescence. Addition of HCG to purified prostate cells resulted in an increase in bromodeoxyuridine incorporation only in the non-secretory epithelial cells. Using a castrated adult rat model system, it has also been observed that LH receptor is regulated by LH itself, and that LH also regulates protein synthesis in the prostate. In addition, it has been possible to demonstrate the presence of LH receptor in the prostate from cases of human benign prostate hyperplasia. These results suggest a possible role for LH in the regulation of prostate growth.
Sriraman
V.
V
Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, Karnataka, India.
Rao
Veena S.
VS
Rajesh
N.
N
Vasan
S. S.
SS
Rao
A. J.
AJ