Prostate expression of endothelins and their receptors in rat growth.
Endothelins (ETs) have been shown to have mitogenic effects on prostate cells in vitro. To study a relationship between ETs and prostate growth, we investigated expression of ET-1 and ET-3 and their receptors ETA and ETB in the dorsolateral (DLP) and ventral (VP) prostate lobes of rats aged 3 weeks, 3 months, and 22 months. The weight ratio of each lobe to the body was not different at 3 weeks but increased more in the DLP than in the VP at 3 months; the ratio did not change at 22 months. The density of the major receptor ETA, measured by radio-labelled ET-1 binding to prostate membrane particulates, was highest at 3 weeks in both prostate lobes and decreased thereafter. mRNA expression levels of ETA, ETB, ET-1, and ET-3 in the DLP and ETA in the VP, as assessed by relative multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, were highest at 3 weeks, and no significant change was seen in mRNA expression of ET-converting enzyme-1. The highest expression of ETA and the ligands at 3 weeks, followed by dramatic growth at 3 months in the DLP, suggests a role of ETA-mediated signal transduction in prostate growth of rats and possibly of humans.
Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
Yoshihiro
Y
Wada
Wataru
W
Takahashi
Jamshid
J
Latifpour
Robert M
RM
Weiss
Koichiro
K
Matsumoto
Kunihiko
K
Matsui
Gen
G
Yamada
Takahisa
T
Imamura
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019333:Endothelin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016232:Endothelins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D017931:DNA Primers; D019332:Endothelin-1; D019333:Endothelin-2; D016232:Endothelins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin