The Effect of A Potent Calcium Channel Blocker, Nifedipine, on the Castration-induced Apoptosis of the Rat Ventral Prostate.
- Author:
Chang Hee HAN
1
;
Hong Woo RHEE
;
Sung Hak KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Urology, Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Castration;
Prostatic apoptosis;
Calcium channel blocker
- MeSH:
Animals;
Apoptosis*;
Calcium Channels*;
Calcium*;
Castration;
Cell Death;
Deoxyribonuclease I;
DNA;
Epithelial Cells;
Homeostasis;
Ions;
Nifedipine*;
Prostate*;
Rats*
- From:Korean Journal of Urology
1997;38(9):905-911
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The rapid involution of the rat ventral prostate after castration is an active process initiated by removal of the inhibitory effects of androgen on prostatic cell death. The degradation of genomic DNA into nucleosomal-sized fragments if an early event in this process and is catalyzed by Ca2+Mg2+-dependent endonuclease activity which is dependent upon calcium ions. The morphologic correlation of the involution process involves a series of structural changes which are collectively referred to as apoptosis. Since the castration-induced endonuclease is dependent upon calcium ions for maximal activity, a potential involvement of a intracellular calcium in the castration-induced prostatic cell death was investigated. Acute disturbance in intracellular calcium homeostasis within the ventral prostate by means of a potent calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, simultaneous with castration resulted in a significant decrease in prostatic apoptosis. This result points to a potential role intracellular calcium levels in the mechanism of activation of castration-induced death of the androgen-dependent epithelial cells in the ventral prostate.
