[Experimental study on effect of xiaolong tongbi on nitric oxide synthase and epithelial cell apoptosis in prostate of rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of Xiaolong Tongbi (XLTB), a Chinese herbal preparation, on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) containing nerve and epithelial cell apoptosis.


METHODS
NOS containing nerve level of various groups prostate was determined by NADPH histochemical staining and morphological quantitative analysis, and the cell apoptosis rate in rats prostatic epithelium was tested immunohistochemically with TUNEL method.


RESULTS
After 3 weeks treatment with high dose XLTB, the length density of NOS contained nerves in prostate tissue of rats was 0.113 +/- 0.023, which was significantly different to that in the other 3 groups (low dose XLTB, Finasteride and testosterone) respectively (P < 0.01). Cell apoptosis reached its peak at the day 7 of experiment in XLTB treated groups (9.27%), and Finasteride treated group (5.65%), which lowered slightly at day 14 and got some recovery at day 21. Castration induced cell apoptosis began at day 7 and reached its peak at day 14, which was significantly different from that in the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
XLTB could increase the NOS contained nerve level and accelerate the apoptosis of epithelial cell in prostate tissue of simulating benign prostatic hyperplasia rats.
Jia
Jin-ming
JM
Department of Urology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of TCM, Beijing 100053.
Ma
Chun-tao
CT
Wang
Le-yu
LY
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000201:enzymology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D011467:Prostate / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat