OBJECTIVESTo investigate prostatic histomorphological changes of rat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) models.

METHODSAfter castrated, SD rats were injected subcutaneously testosterone propionate to induce the BPH. Water substitution method was used to measure prostatic volumes. Prostatic tissue were stained by hemoloxylin and eosin, the morphometric changes of glandular and interstitial tissues were semi-quantified by image analysis system. Multiple linear regression was adopted to analyze the results.

RESULTSIn comparison with normal group, prostatic volumes were significantly enlarged (P < 0.01) with glands expanded and interstitial tissues increased in BPH model. Glandular average diameters, volumes and surface areas in unit volume, as well as glandular circumferences and glandular relative total volumes were all significantly increased (P < 0.01). Glandular counts, density, ratio of glandular surface area to volume. And glandular average curvature were all declined (P < 0.05-0.01), so was interstitial circumference (P < 0.01). But volume density had no changes, and relative total interstitial volumes were obviously increased. Prostatic volume was significantly correlated with glandular relative total volume (r = 0.989, P < 0.001) and interstitial relative total volume(r = 0.789, P < 0.001). Prostatic volume was also correlated significantly with glandular average volume(r = 0.789, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSAction of androgen on rat prostate may mainly lie in glandular epithelial hyperplasia, which manifests enlargement of glandular lumen accompanied by hyperplasia of interstitial tissues.