Androgen ablation induces tenascin expression in the rat prostate
Abstract
Tenascin is a glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix of mesenchymal derived tissue compartments. Although the DNA sequences that code for tenascin production are known and the protein structure is well characterized, little is known about regulation of tenascin expression. Therefore, we are interested in hormonal aspects of tenascin expression. In this study, we addressed the question if androgen deprivation and prostatic involution would influence tenascin expression in the prostate. Methodologically, in two series of experiments, intact and orchiectomized testosterone propionate substituted male rats were subjected to one of the following hormonal treatments: a) flutamide, b) the antiandrogen casodex, and c) cyproterone acetate (CPA). As controls in each series, we used untreated controls and orchiectomized rats. After a period of 14 days of treatment, prostates were removed. Tenascin immunostaining of the sectioned specimen from the control and the hormonally treated animals demonstrated the following: 1) Little, if any tenascin immunoreactivity was detectable in prostates of untreated animals. 2) Androgen deprivation with either treatment resulted in tenascin expression in the stroma of the prostates. 3) Tenascin expressi...Continue Reading
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