[Effects of epidermal growth factor on cellular expression of estrogen and androgen receptors in mouse prostate].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) in mouse prostate cells and explore the putative role of EGF in prostatic hyperplasia.


METHODS
Sixty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into two EGF groups and one control group (n=20) and subjected to subcutaneous injection of 1 and 2 microg/day EGF and distilled water, respectively, for 28 consecutive days. The cellular expression of ER and AR in the prostate of mice in different groups was evaluated by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the positivity rate of ER and its expression level were significantly increased in the mouse prostate after EGF treatment (P<0.01), and the ER expression level was significantly higher in mouse with 2 microg/day EGF treatment than in those treated with 2 microg/day EGF (P<0.01). AR positivity rate and expression level also increased significantly in comparison with the control group (P<0.05), but no significant variation was found between 1 microg/day and 2 microg/day EGF groups.


CONCLUSIONS
EGF can increase the cellular expression of ER and AR in mice prostate and may play a role in the pathogenesis of prostatic hyperplasia.
Jia
Bin
B
Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China. jiabin@hebmu.edu.cn
Tang
Hong
H
Li
Wei
W
Cai
Wen-qing
WQ
D000818:Animals; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor