Experimental autoimmune prostatitis: dihydrotestosterone influence over the immune response.

Purpose: In experimental autoimmune prostatitis in a rat model of chronic prostatic inflammation of noninfectious origin the prostatic 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentration decreases because of depressed 5alpha-reductase activity. This decrease in androgens in situ could favor the development of autoimmune status at the same time. We noted that a DHT increase could protect the gland from immune aggression and/or its consequences in regard to prostatic androgenic metabolism.

Experimental autoimmune prostatitis: in vivo induction of the autoimmune response to lymphocytic soluble factors. Alterations at the endocrine metabolism level.

Problem: In rats, immunization with male accessory gland (MAG) extract promotes experimental autoimmune vesicle prostatitis. A specific mononuclear cell-mediated immune response and prostate androgen metabolism impairment in MAG-immunized rats were observed. The possibility that lymphocytic soluble factors (SoFs) can regulate the local steroid metabolism in these rats directly was studied.

Effect of male accessory glands autoaggression on androgenic cytosolic and nuclear receptors of rat prostate.

The effect of immunization against male accessory gland (MAG) homogenates over androgenic cytosolic and nuclear receptors of rat prostate was studied. In the MAG-immunized rats the Bmax of cytosolic receptors was significantly increased (120.3 +/- 44.