OBJECTIVETo study the antagonistic effect of 3'-daidzein sulfonate sodium (DSS) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and its possible mechanism.

METHODSForty healthy mice were randomly divided into five groups: a normal control group without any treatment, a model group of BPH treated by subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate, a positive control group with the BPH procedure treated by Qianliekang, a 20 mg/(kg x d) DSS group with the BPH procedure and a 40 mg/(kg x d) DSS group with the BPH procedure. After 12 days of the above treatments, the mice were sacrificed for measurement of the prostate glandular wet weight, the index of prostate gland (PI), the morphological changes of prostate gland by light microscopy and the contents of testosterone and estradiol in the serum.

RESULTSThe prostate wet weight and PI decreased dose-dependently after DSS treatment for 12 days compared with the BPH model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The hyperplastic epithelioglandular papilla waned and even disappeared in the DSS treated groups under the light microscope, the epithelial cells became cubical or flat. The effect of DSS at 40 mg/(kg x d) was similar to that of the positive anti-BPH drug Qianliekang. DSS reduced the serum testosterone, estradiol contents and the T/E2 ratio (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDSS has significant antagonistic effect on BPH induced by testosterone propionate in mice, which may involve its regulatory action on the sex hormone balance.