OBJECTIVETo evaluate effects of cypermethrin on the testis histology and testosterone, LH and FSH in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODSThe intact adult male rats were randomly divided into five groups and were treated with cypermethrin at doses of 0, 7.5, 15, 30, or 60 mg/kg per day by oral gavage for 15-days. After the treatments, serum was collected for hormone assays. The testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, and prostates were excised and weighed. The right testis was frozen for daily sperm production and the left one was processed for histopathology.

RESULTSDaily sperm production decreased significantly in 30 and 60 mg/(kg•day) groups. Testicular structure abnormalities included atrophic and distorted seminiferous tubules, deformed and disordered arrangement of germ cells, reduced germ cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, vacuolization and multinucleated formations of spermatids in the cypermethrin-treated rats. Vacuolization was found in Sertoli cells and the deformed nucleus was noted in Leydig cells. Serum testosterone reduced significantly in 30 and 60 mg/(kg•day) groups. Serum FSH increased significantly in 60 mg/(kg•day) group.

CONCLUSIONCypermethrin induces impairments of the seminiferous tubules structure and spermatogenesis in the rats. The damages of the male reproductive system may be attributed to the imbalance of circulating testosterone.

Animals ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; Male ; Prostate ; drug effects ; Pyrethrins ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; drug effects ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu on the proliferation or apoptosis on prostatic smooth muscle cells in vitro.

METHODSAfter extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu treated the cultured prostatic smooth muscle cells, the anti proliferative and apoptotic indices were assessed by MTT assy and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) respectively.

RESULTSThere was a significant dose-effect relationship between the concentration of extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu and the antiproliferative index on prostatic smooth muscle cells in vitro (P < 0.01), but there was no markedly difference in the apoptosis index between the group of extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu and control group ( P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExtracted liquid from Qianlietongyu may show significant antiproliferative effect on prostatic smooth muscle cells in vitro, without inducing apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; cytology ; drug effects

Detrimental effects of tributyltin (TBT) chloride on the reproductive system were investigated in pubertal male rats. Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats aged with 35 days were assigned to six different groups; negative control receiving vehicle, positive control receiving methyltestosterone (10 mg/kg B.W.), TBT chloride (5 mg/kg B.W., 10 mg/kg B.W., and 20 mg/kg B.W.), and a combination of TBT chloride (10 mg/kg B.W.) and flutamide (10 mg/kg B.W). The animals were treated with test compounds by oral gavage daily for 10 days and sacrificed on the next day of the final treatment. The treatment with TBT chloride at the doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg B.W. significantly decreased seminal vesicle weights, compared to the negative control. The combined treatment of TBT chloride and flutamide caused a significant decrease in accessory sex organ weights, compared to the control and TBT chloride treatments. The treatment with TBT chloride or in the combination with flutamide increased detached debris and sloughed cells in the tubules of epididymis and narrowed seminal vesicles. In addition, the combined treatment with TBT chloride and flutamide caused a noticeable increase in serum androgen level, compared to the negative control.These results suggest that TBT chloride exposed during pubertal period cause partial reproductive disorders in male rats.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Epididymis/drug effects ; Flutamide/pharmacology ; Genitalia, Male/*drug effects ; Male ; Methyltestosterone/pharmacology ; Organ Size ; Prostate/drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles/drug effects ; *Sexual Maturation/drug effects ; Testis/drug effects ; Trialkyltin Compounds/*pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effect of potassium channel blocker (tetraethylammonium [TEA], aminopyridine [4-AP], glibenclamide [Glib]) on the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells in vitro.

METHODSThe primary culture was prepared by collagenase dissociation of minced prostatic tissues. Cells were cultured in serum-free prostate epithelial cell growth media and identified by immunocytochemical studies. TEA and 4-AP at the concentration of 1, 5 and 10 mmol/L and Glib at the concentration of 10, 50 and 100 mol/L were added, and after 24, 48 and 72 hours of culturing, a cell column diagram was drawn and the cell number counted. The post-passage cell growth was observed by MTT assay and Hoechst33258 nucleus staining.

RESULTSThe cultured cells showed the typical morphological features of epithelia, with positive stain. MTT assay and Hoechst33258 staining showed that TEA, 4-AP and Glib at the increasing concentration effected different degrees of proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells after 24, 48 and 72 h (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe potassium channel blocker is a direct physiological regulator of the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Male ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antiandrogenic activities of cypermethrin and beta-cypermethrin in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSTranscriptional activation assay based on MDA-kb2 cell was used to determine the antiandrogenic effect of cypermethrin and beta-cypermethrin in vitro. The cells were treated by 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6) and 10(-5) mol/L of cypermethrin and beta-cypermethrin with 1.0 nmol/L DHT at the same time. The effects of antagonism towards the androgenic receptor were studied. In in vivo assays, Hershberger assay was used to determine the antiandrogenic activities of cypermethrin and beta-cypermethrin. Six-week-old castrated male SD rats were administered by cypermethrin (7, 21 and 63 mg/kg) and beta-cypermethrin (6, 18 and 54 mg/kg). After 7-day treatments, all rats were euthanized and androgen-responsive tissues were excised and weighed respectively.

RESULTSThe in vitro experiments showed that 10(-6) and 10(-5) mol/L cypermethrin could inhibit significantly the antagonism activity towards the androgenic receptor of DHT. In in vivo tests, the weight of seminal vesicle, ventral prostate, dorsolateral prostate and preputial glands in the 63 mg/kg cypermethrin [(52.8 +/- 7.1), (42.4 +/- 8.9), (36.6 +/- 4.5) and (43.4 +/- 11.1) mg] decreased significantly compared with those in the control group. In 21 mg/kg cypermethrin treated group only the weights of ventral prostate and dorsolateral prostate decreased significantly, and in 7 mg/kg cypermethrin only the weight of dorsolateral prostate decreased (P < 0.05). For beta-cypermethrin, any antiandrogen effect in in vivo and in vitro experiments was not found in all the groups.

CONCLUSIONCypermethrin is a moderate antiandrogen that elicits antiandrogenic effects at least partly by antagonizing AR and beta-cypermethrin is not an antiandrogen in our experiments.

Androgen Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Organ Size ; Prostate ; drug effects ; Pyrethrins ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Androgen ; drug effects ; Seminal Vesicles ; drug effects

AIMto investigate the effects of crude garlic on adult male rat reproductive functions.

METHODSThirty male rats were divided into five groups: group 1 (untreated) and groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were fed for 30 days with 5%, 10%, 15% and 30% crude garlic, respectively. Testes and accessory organs were weighed and some markers were assessed. Light and electron microscopy observations were also performed.

RESULTSA significant decrease was observed in the body weight of groups 4 (14%; P < 0.01) and 5 (20%; P < 0.01); of the prostate weight in group 5 (29.1%; P < 0.05) and of seminal vesicle weight in groups 3 (14.4%; P < 0.01), 4 (18.3%; P < 0.01) and 5 (27.3%; P < 0.01). In contrast, testis and epididymis weights were unchanged. In epididymis tissue, the alpha glucosidase activity and the spermatozoa density were unchanged. The treatment resulted in a significant decrease in testosterone serum levels in groups 3 (77.3%; P < 0.01), 4 (77.3%; P < 0.01) and 5 (90.9%; P < 0.01), associated with a significant increase in LH serum levels (P < 0.01). Testicular histology showed a dose-dependent increase in the percentage of empty seminiferous tubules. Moreover, testicular function was affected; a significant decrease in phosphatase acid activity (P < 0.01) and testosterone (P < 0.05) contents were observed.

CONCLUSIONCrude garlic consumption during 1 month reduced testosterone secretion and altered spermatogenesis at 10%, 15% and 30% doses.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Garlic ; adverse effects ; Leydig Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Plant Preparations ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; physiology ; Seminal Vesicles ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Testis ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of red clover isoflavones on the proliferation and apoptosis of human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) stromal cells.

METHODSWe treated human prostate stromal cells with red clover isoflavones at the concentration of 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 microg/ml, and established a PBS blank control, a dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) negative control and four finasteride positive control groups (at the concentration of 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 and 100.0 microg/ml). We determined the effects of different concentrations of red clover isoflavones on the proliferation of the cells by MTT assay and on their apoptosis by Annexin V/PI double staining flow cytometry.

RESULTSRed clover isoflavones inhibited the proliferation of the BPH stromal cells by 18.86% at 25.0 microg/ml, compared with 5.17% in the blank control group (P < 0.05), and more obviously at a higher concentration. At 50.0 microg/ml, red clover isoflavones exhibited a weaker inhibitory effect than finasteride (28% vs 69.88% , P < 0.05). Annexin V/PI double staining flow cytometry showed that red clover isoflavones at 25.0 microg/ml induced the apoptosis of the prostate stromal cells by (18.54 +/- 2.5)%, with significant differences from the negative control and blank control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONRed clover isoflavones can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of human BPH stromal cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Prostate ; cytology ; drug effects ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Stromal Cells ; drug effects ; Trifolium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the effects of 19-nortestosterone (NT) on the growth and development of the ventral prostate (VP), epididymis, and seminal vesicles (SV) in hypogonadal (hpg) mice.

METHODSThe silastic tube filled with NT was implanted subdermally into mature hpg mice (n = 7) for five weeks. Similar silastic tubes without NT were implanted into both of hpg mouse control group (n = 7) and normal mouse group (n = 10) instead. The weights of sex accessory glands and the branch tip number of VP from all mice were evaluated.

RESULTSThe weights of VP, SV, and epididymis in NT treated hpg group were significantly higher than those of hpg control group (P < 0.005); and the branching morphology of the VP showed a tendency to be normal and the development of prostate ductal tip was improved significantly. Especially, the weight of SV in NT treated hpg mice was equal to that of normal mice, while the weights of VP, epididymis and branching tip number in NT treated hpg group was still significantly lower than that of normal mice (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONSThe NT treatment significantly stimulates the growth and development of the sex accessory gland in mature hpg mouse.

Animals ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Genitalia, Male ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Hypogonadism ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice ; Nandrolone ; therapeutic use ; Prostate ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seminal Vesicles ; drug effects ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of 4OH-Tamoxifen (OHT) on proliferation and apoptosis of primary cultured prostate stromal cells.

METHODSPrimarily cultured prostate stromal cells in vitro were treated with various concentrations (10(-8) mol/L - 10(-5) mol/L) of estradiol (E2), diethylstilbestrol (DES), OHT and the mixture of E2 (10(-8) mol/L - 10(-6) mol/L) with OHT (10(-7) mol/L) and then MTT and TUNEL were used to detect their proliferation and apoptosis respectively.

RESULTSThere was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between OHT and estrogens in the effects on the apoptosis and proliferation of the primarily cultured prostate stromal cells. OHT suppressed proliferation of the prostate stromal cells at the concentrations from 10(-7) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L (P < 0.05), and this effect was concentration related (r = -0.383, P = 0.005); OHT (10(-7) mol/L) suppressed the proliferation stimulation effect of E2 at the concentrations from 10(-8) mol/L to 10(-6) mol/L (P < 0.05). OHT induced apoptosis at the concentrations from 10(-8) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L (P < 0.05), and this effect was concentration related (r = 0.349, P = 0.012). The apoptosis induced by OHT could not be reversed by E2 at the concentrations from 10(-8) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOHT can obviously suppressed the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of primarily cultured prostate stromal cells, which might not be totally attributed to the competitive inhibition of the estrogen receptor.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of tolterodine on early storage symptoms following transurethral resection of the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy patients over 55 years of age who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate owing to benign prostatic hyperplasia were randomly assigned to receive either 2 mg of tolterodine twice daily (treatment group) or matched placebo during a 1-month study period. Before and 1 month after the procedure, they were asked to complete the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire and quality of life subscale to assess their symptoms. Also, analgesic use and adverse drug events were determined at follow-up. RESULTS: Of 70 allocated patients, 64 patients (91.4%), including 33 in the treatment group and 31 in the placebo group, completed the study. The mean age of the patients was 67 years. None of the patients' basic clinical characteristics were significantly different. At the end of the follow-up period, the total IPSS and quality of life score had significantly improved in the patients receiving tolterodine compared with those receiving placebo (p=0.001 and p=0.036, respectively). The treatment group compared with placebo demonstrated significant improvements in frequency and urgency but not in nocturia. The amount of consumed painkiller was also significantly lower in the tolterodine group than in the placebo group (p=0.0001). The rate of side effects was not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Administering 2 mg of tolterodine twice daily is an effective and well-tolerated regimen to relieve early storage symptoms, quality of life, and the amount of analgesic consumption following transurethral resection of the prostate.
Cholinergic Antagonists ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nocturia ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate