Time-dependent effects of castration on the bladder function and histological changes in the bladder and blood vessels.

We examined the effect of androgens on bladder blood flow (BBF), bladder function and histological changes in castrated male rats. Male Wistar rats were classified into unoperated group (control group), groups castrated at the age of 8 weeks (group 8wPC) and groups castrated at the age of 4 weeks (group 4wPC). Each rat was used at the age of 20 weeks.

Influence of castration on bladder blood flow and function during the rapid phase of androgen deprivation.

Objective: This study examined the effects of androgen deprivation on bladder blood flow (BBF) and bladder function during the acute phase in castrated rats.

Material And Methods: Nine-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into six groups as follows: 24 h post-sham-operation (24hPS), no operation (control), 24 h post-castration (24hPC), 48 h post-castration (48hPC), 7 days post-castration (7dPC) and 12 weeks post-castration (12wPC). BBF was measured in the 24hPS, control, 24hPC, 48hPC, 7dPC and 12wPC groups, and prostate blood flow was measured in the control, 24hPC, 48hPC and 7dPC groups using laser Doppler methods.

New quantification method for estradiol in the prostatic tissues of benign prostatic hyperplasia using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Estrogen is suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. To clarify the role of estradiol (E2) in the prostatic tissues (prostatic tissue E2) during the development of prostatic disorders, we developed a new sensitive and specific quantification method for prostatic tissue E2 using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). For the solid-phase extraction, E2 was purified by anion-exchange through an Oasis MAX cartridge.

Participation of adrenomedullin and its relation with vascular endothelial growth factor in androgen regulation of prostatic blood flow in vivo.

Objectives: We had previously reported that androgen-regulated prostatic blood flow and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were involved in the signal transduction pathway. Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a multifunctional regulatory peptide with mitogenic and angiogenic capabilities that are regulated by androgen. ADM is abundantly expressed in the prostate.

Positive effect of prostaglandin on regulation of prostatic blood flow.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its antireceptor antibody on prostatic blood flow regulation using a rat model. We estimated that PGE2 participated in the signaling pathway of hormonal regulation of the prostatic blood flow.

Methods: The rats were castrated and injected locally with dihydrotestosterone (200 ng/head) or PGE2 (250 ng/head) directly into the prostatic membrane.

Acute genitourinary toxicity after high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy combined with hypofractionated external-beam radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer: Second analysis to determine the correlation between the urethral dose in HDR brachytherapy and the severity of acute genitourinary toxicity.

Purpose: We have been treating localized prostate cancer with high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy combined with hypofractionated external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) at our institution. We recently reported the existence of a correlation between the severity of acute genitourinary (GU) toxicity and the urethral radiation dose in HDR brachytherapy by using different fractionation schema. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of the urethral dose in the development of acute GU toxicity more closely than in previous studies.

Administration of extract of mushroom Phellinus linteus induces prostate enlargement with increase in stromal component in experimentally developed rat model of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Objectives: To clarify the effect of the mushroom extract Phellinus linteus on noncancerous prostate cells using an experimentally developed rat benign prostatic hyperplasia model. A growing number of people take some natural herbal extracts for maintenance of their health. Among them, the extracts of certain mushrooms are believed to have a marked tumoricidal effect but low toxicity for normal tissues, and they are being drunk widely in Japan and Korea.

Changes in testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels in male rat accessory sex organs, serum, and seminal fluid after castration: establishment of a new highly sensitive simultaneous androgen measurement method.

It is known that abnormal androgen dynamics in the tissues is a cause of androgen-dependent disorders. Investigation of tissue androgen levels could provide a clue to the elucidation of disorders. However, it is difficult to measure a trace amount of androgen in the tissues.

Effect of androgen concentration on seminal vesicle blood flow in rats-establishment of new highly sensitive simultaneous androgen measurement method.

Objectives: To clarify the effect of androgen concentration on blood flow regulation in seminal vesicles and to identify the androgen most responsible for this effect.

Methods: The androgen concentrations in the seminal vesicles and the seminal vesicle blood flow were measured at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after castration. The androgen concentration was measured with a newly developed highly sensitive simultaneous androgen quantification method that uses liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Direct regulation of prostate blood flow by vascular endothelial growth factor and its participation in the androgenic regulation of prostate blood flow in vivo.

Previous studies on prostate blood flow regulation have indicated that androgen regulates prostate blood flow. However, the mechanism responsible for this regulation is unknown. In the present study, we focused on the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key factor responsible for angiogenesis and androgenic blood flow regulation.

Role of androgen on blood flow and capillary structure in rat seminal vesicles.

To clarify the effect of androgen on the microcirculation in seminal vesicles of adult Wistar rats, we investigated the organ blood flow and morphological features in the capillaries after castration and subsequent testosterone supplementation. Testosterone (T) was subcutaneously injected every 12 hours after castration and its doses were set to 10(-2), 10(-1), 10(0) and 10(1) mg/kg-body weight (T10(-2), T10(-1), T10(0) and T10(1) groups, respectively). Organ blood flow was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry, and the subepithelial capillaries were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy.

Androgen-dependent blood flow control and morphological changes of the capillaries in rat prostate.

To clarify the effect of androgens on the microcirculation of the prostate, organ blood flow and ultrastructural features of the capillaries were investigated. In the ventral prostate (VP) of adult Wistar rats, organ blood flow was measured using a laser Doppler flowmetry, and the morphological features of the subepithelial capillaries were investigated and their luminal area was measured using transmission electron microscopy and a computed image analyzer at 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after castration, and 2 days after castration and gradational testosterone supplementation. The capillaries of the VP were classified into three types; oval opened (type 1), intermediate (type 2) and collapsed (type 3).

Hormonal and morphologic evaluation of the effects of antiandrogens on the blood supply of the rat prostate.

Objectives: To clarify the basic aspects of the regulation of the prostatic blood supply by antiandrogens, their effect on the prostatic blood supply was studied for both androgen content and morphology of true capillaries in the rat ventral prostate. The effectiveness of antiandrogens on the control of hemorrhagic status in prostatic diseases has been previously reported.

Methods: Androgen concentrations in the prostate were quantified after administration of chlormadinone acetate (CMA), finasteride, or flutamide.

The evaluation of rat prostate blood flow using a laser speckle flowmetry: a comparative study using the microsphere method in castrated and androgen-replenished rats.

To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of laser speckle blood flowmetry in the measurement of prostate blood flow, we performed a comparative study with the ordinary intra-arterial radioactive microsphere injection method using the well-known castrate-rat model. Adult male Wistar strain rats were used for the study. The rats were either only castrated or subcutaneous testosterone replenishment was followed subcutaneously 6 h after castration.

Genetic polymorphisms of estrogen receptor alpha, CYP19, catechol-O-methyltransferase are associated with familial prostate carcinoma risk in a Japanese population.

Background: Estrogen is one of the crucial hormones participating in the proliferation and carcinogenesis of the prostate glands. Genetic polymorphisms in the estrogen metabolism pathway might be involved in the risk of prostate carcinoma development. The authors evaluated the association between genetic polymorphisms in estrogen-related enzymes and receptors and the risk of developing familial prostate carcinoma.

[Chromophobe cell renal carcinoma: a case report].

We report a case of chromophobe cell carcinoma in a 41-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital because of right upper abdominal pain. We performed right radical nephrectomy under the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. The cut surface appearance of the tumor was homogeneous, grey beige and solid.