Prepubertal chrysin exposure upregulates either AR in male ventral prostate or AR and ERα in Skene's paraurethral gland of pubertal and adult gerbils

Stromal cell interplay in prostate development, physiology, and pathological conditions

Advances in prostatic stroma studies over the past few decades have demonstrated that the stroma not only supports and nourishes the gland's secretory epithelium but also participates in key aspects of morphogenesis, in the prostate's hormonal metabolism, and in the functionality of the secretory epithelium. Furthermore, the stroma is implicated in the onset and progression of prostate cancer through the formation of the so-called reactive stroma, which corresponds to a tumorigenesis-permissive microenvironment. Prostatic stromal cells are interconnected and exchange paracrine signals among themselves in a gland that is highly sensitive to endocrine hormones. There is a growing body of evidence that telocytes, recently detected interstitial cells that are also present in the prostate, are involved in stromal organization, so that their processes form a network of interconnections with both the epithelium and the other stromal cells. The present review provides an update on the different types of prostate stromal cells, their interrelationships and implications for prostate development, physiology and pathological conditions.

Aluminum exposure promotes histopathological and pro-oxidant damage to the prostate and gonads of male and female adult gerbils

Since the industrial revolution, all living beings have become susceptible to numerous sources of aluminum (Al) exposure. In addition to causing proven toxicity in many organs and systems, Al can also have estrogenic activity when absorbed by the body. The reproductive organs are commonly affected by environmental pollutants with estrogenic activity, but little is known about the effects of Al on the prostate and gonads. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of subchronic Al exposure on the prostate and gonads of male and female adult gerbils. After 30 days of oral exposure to aluminum chloride (10 mg/kg/day), the animals were euthanized and the organs processed for cytochemical, ultrastructural, and biochemical assays. Ventral male prostates exposed to Al became hyperplastic and showed signs of cell aging. In addition, the male prostate showed decreased catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The female prostate was structurally more affected than the ventral male prostate, since it presented hyperplasia and punctual foci of inflammation and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. However, CAT and SOD activities did not change in this gland. In the testis, Al promoted immature germ cell detachment and degeneration, as well as reduced CAT activity. In the ovaries, Al caused reduction in folliculogenesis and decreased SOD activity. Together, these results indicate that Al is toxic to the prostate and gonads of adult gerbils and that continuous exposure to this metal can impair the fertility of individuals of both sexes.

Differences between male and female prostates in terms of physiology, sensitivity to chemicals and pathogenesis-A review in a rodent model

The prostate is a gland that is not exclusively present in males, being also found in females of several mammalian species, including humans. There is evidence that the prostate in both sexes is affected by the same pathologies such as prostatitis, benign alterations and even cancer. In view of the difficulties of manipulating the prostate gland, the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus), a rodent species with high incidence of functional prostates in females, is widely used in studies of the female prostate. However, despite knowing much about the similarities between the female and male prostate, little emphasis has been placed on the differences between them. This review investigates the intersex differences in prostate development, physiology and pathogenesis. The female prostate develops earlier than in males and studies indicate that it is more sensitive to oestrogens than the male prostate, as well as being more sensitive to exposure to xenoestrogens, such as Bisphenol A and methylparaben, with a higher susceptibility to benign lesions in the adult and senile prostate than in males. In addition, the female prostate is impacted by pregnancy and the oestrous cycle, and is also dependent on progesterone. The peculiarities of the female prostate raise concerns about the risk of it undergoing neglected changes as a result of environmental chemicals, since safe dosages are established exclusively for the male prostate.

Short-term exposure to chrysin promotes proliferative responses in the ventral male prostate and female prostate of adult gerbils

Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) is a bioactive compound found in different fruits, vegetables, honey and propolis. This flavone has been suggested for the treatment of reproductive dysfunction, mainly because of its antioxidant and hormonal properties. However, the effects of this polyphenol on the prostate are still poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of short-term chrysin exposure on the ventral male and female prostates of adult gerbils. To evaluate the androgenic potential of chrysin, gerbils were also exposed to testosterone. Male and female gerbils were exposed to chrysin (50 mg/kg/day, orally) or testosterone cypionate (1 mg/kg/week, subcutaneously) for 3, 7 and 21 days. Prostates were dissected for morphological, stereological and immunohistochemical analyses. Serum levels of testosterone and 17β-estradiol were measured by ELISA. Serum testosterone levels were not increased by chrysin supplementation in males or females. However, only females treated with chrysin for 21 days showed an increase in estradiol levels. Increased androgen receptor immunoreactivity, higher proliferation rates and glandular hyperplasia were observed in male and female prostates for all chrysin treatment times. Additionally, increased oestrogen receptor alpha immunoreactivity was observed in all chrysin-treated females. Although chrysin and testosterone promoted similar morphological changes in the gerbil prostate, chrysin supplementation was less deleterious to prostate health, since it resulted in lower incidence of hyperplasia and an absence of neoplastic foci.

Anabolic effects of chrysin on the ventral male prostate and female prostate of adult gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Chrysin is a bioflavonoid found in fruits, flowers, tea, honey and wine, which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and anticarcinogenic properties. This flavone has also been considered as beneficial for reproduction due its testosterone-boosting potential. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chrysin on the prostate and gonads of male and female adult gerbils. In addition, a comparative analysis of the effects of testosterone on these same organs was conducted. Ninety-day-old male and female gerbils were treated with chrysin (50 mg kg−1 day−1) or testosterone cypionate (1 mg kg−1 week−1) for 21 days. The ventral male prostate and female prostate were dissected out for morphological, morphometric–stereological and ultrastructural assays. Testes and ovaries were submitted to morphological and morphometric­­–stereological analyses. Chrysin treatment caused epithelial hyperplasia and stromal remodelling of the ventral male and female prostate. Ultrastructurally, male and female prostatic epithelial cells in the chrysin group presented marked development of the organelles involved in the biosynthetic–secretory pathway, whereas cellular toxicity was observed only in female glands. Chrysin preserved normal testicular morphology and increased the number of growing ovarian follicles. Comparatively, testosterone treatment was detrimental to the prostate and gonads, since foci of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and gonadal degeneration were observed in both sexes. Thus, under the experimental conditions of this study, chrysin was better tolerated than testosterone in the prostate and gonads.