title: Histopathological classification criteria of rat model of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A variety of murine models of experimental prostatitis that mimic the phenotype of human chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) have been developed. However, there is still a lack of explicit diagnosis criteria about those animal model. Our study is to establish histopathological classification criteria, which will be conducive to evaluate the animal models.
  
  
  METHODS
  We firstly established a rat model of experimental autoimmune prostatitis that is considered a valid model for CP/CPPS. For modelling, male Sprague-Dawley rats were immunized with autologous prostate tissue homogenate supernatant emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant by subcutaneous injection into abdominal flank and simultaneously immunized with pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccine by intraperitoneal injection. Three immunizations were administered semimonthly. At the 45th day, animals were killed, and prostate tissues were examined for morphology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histologically, the prostate tissues were characterized by lymphoproliferation, atrophy of acini, and chronic inflammatory cells infiltration in the stromal connective tissue around the acini or ducts. Finally, we built histopathological classification criteria incorporating inflammation locations (mesenchyme, glands, periglandular tissues), ranges (focal, multifocal, diffuse), and grades (grade I-IV). To verify the effectiveness and practicability of the histopathological classification criteria, we conducted the treatment study with one of the alpha blockers, tamsulosin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The histopathological classification criteria of rat model of CP/CPPS will serve for further research of the pathogenesis and treatment strategies of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197# Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China, xianjin09@163.com.
authors.forename: Xianjin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Tianyuan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Leilei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhaowei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Minguang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhoujun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077409:Tamsulosin
chemical_list: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077409:Tamsulosin