Local inflammation influences oestrogen metabolism in prostatic tissue

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: • To investigate the impact of experimentally induced inflammation on oestrogen metabolism in rat prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: • Prostatitis was induced in normal and oestrogen-treated male rats by injecting 2% carrageenan solution into the ventral prostate. After 48 h, the rats were killed and the ventral prostate was collected. • Prostatic inflammation and proliferation were confirmed by gross visual evidence, histology and elevated tumour necrosis factor-α, prostaglandin E 2 and cyclin-D1. • Expression of oestrogen- metabolizing enzymes was assessed using capillary electrophoresis, and oestrogen metabolites within prostate tissue were assayed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. RESULTS: • Animals exposed to carrageenan insult combined with oestrogen treatment showed the most prominent inflammatory and proliferative response. • Treatment of animals with oestrogen alone induced moderate inflammation and proliferation. • Oestrogen-metabolizing enzymes were overexpressed in animals with experimental prostatitis with sequential accumulation of catechol oestrogens within prostatic tissues. • Oestrogen receptor-α was underexpressed in the prostatitis with oestrogen group, while oestrogen receptor-β was overexpressed. CONCLUSIONS: • The present work provides experimental evidence that local inflammation enhances oestrogen synthesis and directs oestrogen metabolism to generate catechol oestrogens within prostatic tissues. • This may contribute, at least partly, to enhanced prostatic cell proliferation. © 2011 BJU International.