Abstract
Immunolocalization of glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-PO), apoptosis, and bcl-2 protein in the rat ventral prostate was investigated under the presence or absence of androgen. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups. Group I consisted of intact controls. In group 2, rats were sacrificed two days after castration. In groups 3 and 4, rats were administered subcutaneously 1mg/animal of testosterone-propionate daily for three or seven days after two days of castration. The intensity of GSH-PO staining in the glandular epithelial cells of the ventral prostate was remarkably decreased after castration (Group 2), and it was clearly recovered by testosterone-administration (Groups 3 and 4) in the castrated rats. Furthermore, castration (Group 2) induced apoptosis in the prostatic glandular epithelial cells and apoptosis was reduced by testosterone-administration (Groups 3 and 4) in the castrated rats. In groups 3 and 4, expression of bcl-2 protein was clearly detected in the glandular epithelial cells of the ventral prostate. These findings strongly suggest thatexpression of GSH-PO and bcl-2 protein in the glandular epithelial cells of the rat ventral prostate is considered to be testosterone-dependent.
