[Effects of testosterone on the proliferation of rat corpus cavernosum cells in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of testosterone on the proliferation of penile corpus cavernosal cells in male SD rats.


METHODS
Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and fibroblasts collected from the corpus cavernosal tissues of male SD rats were cultured by the enzymatic dispersion method and detected for the expression of the androgen receptor (AR) by immunohistochemistry. The effects of testosterone on the SMCs and fibroblasts were observed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay in different concentration groups (10(-8) mol/L, 10(-7) mol/L, 10(-6) mol/L, 10(-5) mol/L, 10(-4) mol/L and 10(-3) mol/L) in comparison with the control.


RESULTS
The AR expression was found in the penile corpus cavernosal tissues. MTT assay showed that, at the concentration of 10(-5) mol/L, testosterone induced the proliferation of SMCs (68100 +/- 2200) and fibroblasts (70200 +/- 1300), with significant differences from the control ( P < 0.05), while at 10(-4) mol/L, it inhibited their proliferation (55000 +/- 1400 and 59100 +/- 1500, respectively), (P < 0.01). No significant effects were noted in the other concentration groups.


CONCLUSIONS
AR exists in the penile corpus cavernosal tissues of male rats. Testosterone modulates the proliferation of corpus cavernosum tissue cells through AR, and different concentrations of testosterone may be positively or negatively correlated with the proliferation of SMCs and fibroblasts.
Liu
Bo
B
Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
Liu
Ji-hong
JH
Wang
Tao
T
Yang
Jun
J
Wang
Shao-gang
SG
Lan
Ru-zhu
RZ
Ye
Zhang-qun
ZQ
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010413:Penis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone