RECK expression in the rat ventral prostate: Response to castration involves a balance between epithelial and stromal expression

Abstract

RECK is expressed in the rat ventral prostate. The amount of mRNA increased after castration. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry demonstrated a transition from epithelial to stromal expression. This demonstrates that stromal cells upregulate RECK expression to regulate matrix metalloproteinases activity responsible for extracellular matrix (ECM) changes occurring after castration. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.