Regulation of surfactant protein D in the rodent prostate.
BACKGROUND
Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is an innate immune protein that is present in mucosal lined surfaces throughout the human body, including the male reproductive tract. In the present study, we characterized the regulation of SP-D expression in the mouse and rat prostate.


METHODS
Real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunostaining were used to characterize SP-D mRNA and protein in the mouse male reproductive tract. In order to evaluate the effects of testosterone on SP-D gene expression, we measured SP-D mRNA levels via real time RT-PCR in prostates from sham-castrated mice and castrated mice. In addition, we used a rat prostatitis model in which Escherichia coli was injected into the prostate in vivo to determine if infection influences SP-D protein levels in the prostate.


RESULTS
We found that SP-D mRNA and protein are present throughout the mouse male reproductive tract, including in the prostate. We determined that castration increases prostate SP-D mRNA levels (~7 fold) when compared to levels in sham-castrated animals. Finally, we demonstrated that infection in the prostate results in a significant increase in SP-D content 24 and 48 hours post-infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that infection and androgens regulate SP-D in the prostate.
Oberley
Rebecca E
RE
Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, USA, CO 80206, USA. oberleyr@njc.org
Goss
Kelli L
KL
Quintar
Amado A
AA
Maldonado
Cristina A
CA
Snyder
Jeanne M
JM
D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000728:Androgens; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D012333:RNA, Messenger