Immunolocalization of androgen receptors, estrogen α receptors, and estrogen β receptors in experimentally induced canine prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-dependent prostatic disease affecting male humans and dogs. In dogs, the combined administration of estrogens and androgens synergistically increases prostate weight, and continued treatment leads to the development of glandular hyperplasia. The aim of the present study was to examine the immunohistochemical expression of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor α (ERα), and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in the different cell types of the prostate gland in an experimental model. Five male beagle dogs were castrated and treated with 25 mg of 5α-androstane-3α and 17β-diol and 0.25 mg 17β-estradiol for 30 weeks. Prostate specimens were surgically obtained every 45 days (experimental stages M0 to M6: 0, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 weeks from the beginning of the hormonal treatment). The control group consisted of 3 noncastrated dogs treated with a vehicle, from which specimens were only taken at the time points M0, M1, M4, and M6. Immunohistochemical data revealed high AR and ERα expression in the epithelial and stromal cell nuclei of all the experimental and control specimens. Weak staining of the cytoplasm was observed only in epithelial cells. The suspension of hormone treatment led to a significant reduction in the expression of both receptors. On the contrary, ERβ was expressed only in epithelial cell nuclei, with no significant differences in the percentages of stained nuclei between control and hormonally treated or atrophic prostates. Results indicate that AR, ERα, and ERβ are differently expressed in canine prostate tissue and that they show specific expression patterns in response to the hormonal induction of BPH. Copyright © American Society of Andrology.