title: Long-term administration of prolactin or testosterone induced similar precancerous prostate lesions in rats.
abstract: Evidence indicates that prolactin plays a crucial role in the normal function and development of the prostate, but abnormal high levels of the hormone are associated with hyperplasia and cancer of the gland.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to describe the progressive specific histological abnormalities in the prostate of rats with chronic hyperprolactinemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prolactin was administered during 4; 12 or 24 weeks, and the resulting prostatic alterations were compared with control rats, and also with those treated with testosterone, or the combination of prolactin + testosterone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rats treated with prolactin, testosterone or prolactin + testosterone expressed precancerous histological abnormalities in the dorsolateral and ventral portions of the prostate as early as in 4 weeks of treatment, but in all cases the malignancy increased after 12 or 24 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study confirms that chronic hyperprolactinemia is a cause of prostate precancerous pathologies.
authors: Center for Brain Research, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Ver. 91190, Mexico.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Herrera-Covarrubias
authors: Center for Brain Research, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Ver. 91190, Mexico.
authors: G A
authors: GA
authors: Coria-Avila
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Ver. 91190, Mexico.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Chavarría-Xicoténcatl
authors: Center for Brain Research, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Ver. 91190, Mexico.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Fernández-Pomares
authors: Center for Brain Research, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Ver. 91190, Mexico.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Manzo
authors: Center for Brain Research, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Ver. 91190, Mexico.
authors: G E
authors: GE
authors: Aranda-Abreu
authors: Center for Brain Research, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Ver. 91190, Mexico.
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Hernández
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin