title: Androgen-dependent morphology of prostates and seminal vesicles in the Hershberger assay: evaluation of immunohistochemical and morphometric parameters.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate androgen-like effects using immunohistochemical and morphometric methods. Therefore, orchiectomized Wistar rats (n > or = 13) were treated s.c. with 1 mg/kg bw/day testosterone propionate (TP) for 7 days and compared to orchiectomized rats without TP substitution (OX) and to an untreated intact control group. Sections obtained from prostates and seminal vesicles were stained with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against the androgen receptor (AR) and assessed densitometrically (intensity of the immunoreaction) and morphometrically (epithelial height, luminal area). TP caused an enhancement of staining intensity and an increase in organ weights, epithelial height and luminal area. The use of proliferation markers (PCNA, MIB-5) showed also a highly significant increase of immunoreactive cells in TP-substituted orchiectomized rats compared with the OX group. Based on the present data, the densitometric analysis of AR-immunoreactivity as well as the assessment of proliferation markers, epithelial height and luminal area proved to be sensitive parameters for the evaluation of androgen effects on prostates and seminal vesicles. In further studies these parameters will be used to test several industrial xenooestrogens as well as phytooestrogens on their possible androgenic capacity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health Research, Technical University of Munich, Connollystrasse 32, 80809 Munich, Germany. nishino@sp.tum.de
authors.forename: Tsuyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wedel
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bühlmeyer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schönfelder
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hirtreiter
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kühnel
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Michna
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D013739:Testosterone