Beta-adrenergic receptor blockade and prostate peptide growth factor expression in the rat.

Background And Aim: In the rat prostate, beta-adrenoreceptor (beta-AR) stimulation does not alter basal prostatic tone but may inhibit alpha1-AR-mediated, field stimulation-induced or receptor-independent contractile responses. The present study was designed to assess the alteration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) expression in the rat ventral prostate in response to beta-AR blockade with propranolol.

Results: At sacrifice, body weight as well as ventral prostate weight and prostate morphology were not significantly affected by propranolol treatment.