The effect of combined androgen ablation on the expression of alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor in the human prostate.

摘要

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine whether androgen ablation (AA) affects expression of alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptors (AR) in the human prostate. METHODS: Concentrations of alpha(1A)-AR mRNA were determined in benign prostatic tissue from patients undergoing surgery after a 3-month course of combined androgen ablation (CAD) therapy with leuprolide and flutamide, and a matched group of untreated patients with clinical BPH. RESULTS: Mean concentration of alpha(1A)-AR in the AA group was 0.53 +/- 0.53 SD (range 0.026-1.55) attomol/mg. Control mean was 0.29 +/- 0.22 SD (range 0.02-0.69; P = 0.3, two tailed t-test). Tissue composition did not statistically differ between the two groups. Expression of alpha(1A)-AR correlated with concentration of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) (r = 0.84, P = 0.001). No significant differences were observed after adjusting for SMMHC content. CONCLUSIONS: A 3-month course of CAD does not appear to have a significant effect on alpha(1A)-AR mRNA expression in the human prostate. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.