Objective: To investigate the influences of androgen and estrogen on expression of HO-1 gene in rat ventral prostate.
Methods: To create the model of castrated male rats, the testes were removed via scrotal incision. HO-1 mRNA level was tested by RT-PCR. The use of immunohistochemical staining procedures with image analytic technical system allowed us to assess the effects of exogenous androgen and estrogen on expression and location of HO-1 protein in rat ventral prostate.
Results: The levels of HO-1 mRNA transcription and HO-1 protein expression in the castrated group were markedly decreased, compared with those in normal control group (P < 0.01); But both these levels in the groups of castration plus exogenous androgen and castration plus exogenous estrogen were much higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, estrogen could increase the level of HO-1 protein expression in prostatic stroma.
Conclusion: Carbon monoxide-heme oxygenase system might be involved in the pathologic processes of prostatic abnormal proliferation.