[Expressions of transforming growth factor-beta(1) and Smad4 in rat models of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis and their clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expressions of transforming growth factor-beta(1) and Smad4 in the prostatic tissue of rat models of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP), and to explore the mechanisms of CNP and its fibrosis.


METHODS
Sixty 6-month-old SD rats were randomly allocated into three groups of equal number: normal control, 30 d CNP model and 45 d CNP model, the models made by castration + high-dose intramuscular injection of estradiol benzoate. The expressions of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 in the prostatic tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.


RESULTS
Compared with the normal controls, the 30 d and 45 d CNP rat models showed a significantly increased expression of TGF-beta1 and decreased expression of Smad4 (P < 0.05), even more significantly in the 45 d than in the 30 d group. And the expression of TGF-beta1 was negatively correlated with that of Smad4 in the CNP rat models.


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-beta1 and Smad4 may be involved in the pathogenesis of CNP, and prostatic fibrosis may make the condition difficult to cure.
Wang
Yang-Min
YM
Department of Urology, General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Region, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China. wangymmr@yahoo.com.cn
Lu
Shou-Lin
SL
Zhao
Zhi-Qiang
ZQ
Zhao
Yu-Hai
YH
Wang
Nan
N
Jing
De-Shan
DS
Dong
Yong-Chao
YC
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D051901:Smad4 Protein; C490811:Smad4 protein, rat; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1