Repercussions of castration and vasectomy on the ductal system of the rat ventral prostate.
Diseases, such as cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia, are related to disruption of the mechanism regulating the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis in prostatic cells. Since castration and vasectomy might alter that balance, this study evaluates the cell proliferation, apoptosis and height of the secretory epithelium of the ventral-prostate ductal system post-castration and vasectomy. Immunohistochemical (PCNA and Ki67), cytochemical (Fuelgen reaction) and morphometric investigation have been carried out. Cell proliferation indices decreased significantly in both regions of the ventral-prostate ductal system after castration compared to the sham-operated group. The apoptotic index increased significantly after 48 h, declining 7 days post-castration. The cell proliferation indices did not differ after 48 h significantly; however, they increased 7 days post-vasectomy in both regions. The apoptotic index did not differ significantly in either time post-vasectomy. Castration caused an imbalance in favor of apoptosis, whereas vasectomy caused an imbalance in favor of cell proliferation.
Pereira
S
S
Department of Cell Biology, Biology Institute, Campinas State University, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil. pereira_s2004@msn.com
Martinez
M
M
Martinez
F E
FE
Júnior
W Mello
WM
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001835:Body Weight; D002369:Castration / Q000009:adverse effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen