title: [Effects of testosterone on VEGF and FLK-1 protein expression in the ventral prostate of rat].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of testosterone on VEGF and FLK-1 protein expression in the ventral prostate of Rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  SD rats were castrated, and 7 days later they were injected with different doses of testosterone. The histological changes were observed with the use of HE staining, and the protein expression of VEGF, FLK-1 were measured by immunohistochemical test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the normal ventral prostate, different growth forms of epithelium were observed. In the castrated group, the proteins of VEGF, FLK-1 were positive in growth active epithelium and vascular endothelium; the weight of prostate decreased (P < 0.05); the histological appearance was epithelial atrophy, and there was significantly decreased protein expression of VEGF, FLK-1 in the prostatic epithelium (P < 0.05). It was found that testosterone injection stimulated prostatic hyperplasia gradually The histological changes were epithelial progressive proliferation. And a gradually increased protein expression of VEGF, FLK-1 in the prostatic epithelium was detected (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Testosterone can stimulate prostatic growth probably by upregulating the protein expression of VEGF and FLK-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuang University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Bangliang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xiuying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yuru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D013739:Testosterone; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2