Effects of sulpiride on mRNA levels of steroid 5alpha-reductase isozymes in prostate of adult rats.

Prolactin (PRL) is implicated in prostate growth and in the development and regulation of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). PRL may exert its effects on prostate in synergism with androgens. The most active androgen in the prostate is the 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) obtained from testosterone by the 5alpha-reductase (5alpha-R) enzyme, which is expressed in the prostate as two isozymes, 5alpha-R1 and 5alpha-R2. In this study, sulpiride, a prolactin-secretion inductor, was administered to male rats. mRNA levels of 5alpha-R1 and 5alpha-R2 were measured in prostate of controls and sulpiride-treated rats, using one-step quantitative RT-PCR coupled with laser-induced fluorescence capillary electrophoresis (LIF-CE). Results demonstrated that sulpiride-induced hyperprolactinemia is associated with an increase in mRNA levels of both 5alpha-R1 and 5alpha-R2 in prostate of adult rats. Although a direct effect of sulpiride on prostate gland cannot be ruled out, hyperprolactinemia may be a factor to be considered in aging males, in whom prostatic diseases such as BPH and PCa are more frequent.