title: Flaxseed reduces epithelial proliferation but does not affect basal cells in induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the effects of a flaxseed-based diet on the histoarchitecture of the prostate of normal Wistar rats and of rats with induced BPH.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included four experimental groups of ten animals each: casein control group (CCG), who were fed a casein-based diet; flaxseed control group (FCG), who were fed a flaxseed-based diet; hyperplasia-induced casein group (HICG), who were fed a casein-based diet; and hyperplasia-induced flaxseed group (HIFG), who were fed a flaxseed-based diet. Hyperplasia was induced by the subcutaneous implantation of silicone pellets containing testosterone propionate. After 20 weeks, the rats were euthanized and their prostate fixed in buffered formalin. Tissue sections were stained with HE, picrosirius red and immunostained for nuclear antigen p63. Histomorphometric analysis evaluated the epithelial thickness, epithelial area, individual luminal area, and total area of prostatic alveoli.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean epithelial thickness obtained for HIFG and HICG was 16.52 ± 1.65 and 20.58 ± 2.86 µm, respectively. The mean epithelial thickness in HICG was greater than that in the other groups tested. HIFG had a smaller epithelial thickness and lower percentage of papillary projections in the prostatic alveoli. No significant difference was observed between CCG and FCG. The total area and mean alveolar area showed no significant differences between the groups. The number of cells immunostained for p63 was not significantly different between the groups evaluated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that flaxseed has a protective effect on the prostate epithelium in BPH-induced animals.
authors: Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Cellular and Extracellular Biomorphology Biomedic Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Hernani Melo, 101, São Domingos, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 24210-130, Brazil.
authors: Ilma Cely
authors: IC
authors: de Amorim Ribeiro
authors: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Experimental Nutrition Laboratory, College of Nutrition, Federal Fluminense University, 30/5th floor, Rio de Janeiro, 24020-140, Brazil.
authors: Carlos Alberto Soares
authors: CAS
authors: da Costa
authors: Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Cellular and Extracellular Biomorphology Biomedic Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Hernani Melo, 101, São Domingos, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 24210-130, Brazil.
authors: Vivian Alves Pereira
authors: VAP
authors: da Silva
authors: Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Cellular and Extracellular Biomorphology Biomedic Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Hernani Melo, 101, São Domingos, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 24210-130, Brazil.
authors: Lanna Beatriz Neves Silva
authors: LBNS
authors: Côrrea
authors: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Experimental Nutrition Laboratory, College of Nutrition, Federal Fluminense University, 30/5th floor, Rio de Janeiro, 24020-140, Brazil.
authors: Gilson Teles
authors: GT
authors: Boaventura
authors: Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Cellular and Extracellular Biomorphology Biomedic Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Hernani Melo, 101, São Domingos, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 24210-130, Brazil. chagas.m@gmail.com.
authors: Mauricio Alves
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4873-616X
authors: MA
authors: Chagas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D019597:Flax; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins
keywords: Benign prostatic hyperplasia; Diet; Flaxseed; Prostate; Rats