AIM To make clear the relationship between
testosterone propionate(TP) and the growth of prostatic
epithelial cell in castration
beagle canine. METHODS The prostates were extracted from the castrated beagle canine which have been treated with TP. Dihydrotestosterone(DHT) in prostate was detected by radioimmunoassay(RIA), the slices of prostate(4 μm) were stained with H&E investigated under microscope, and the acinar lumial area and the height of
epithelial cell were measured with videodensitometer. The expression of prostatic specific antigen(PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase(PAP) of epithelial cell was determined by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS DHT level of prostate was increased in TP treated groups. Under microscope, the acinar luminal area of prostate was enlarged and the height of epithelial cell was increased in TP treated groups. The microimage analysis showed that the acinar luminal area of prostate in TP treated groups enlarged significantly (P<0.01), the area was 4.5-7 times of that of control; the height of epithelial cell also was 4-8 times of that of control(P<0.01). In TP treated groups, the expression of PSA and the expression of PAP of epithelial cell were higher than that of control(P<0.05). CONCLUSION The growth and functions of epithelial cell of prostate from castrated canine were depended on androgen, and the epithelial cell would be atrophied if it was deprived of androgen.