The effect of 5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol and 17β-estradiol on the adult and immature chacma baboon prostate

Abstract

We have studied the Chacma baboon prostate in an attempt to develop a primate model of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Anatomically, the baboon prostate can be divided into caudal, cranial, and prostatic urethral segments. A peri-urethral group of glands has been identified in the prostatic urethra. Following treatment with either 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol or 17 beta-estradiol, or the hormones in combination, the mature baboon prostate showed very little response by gravimetric or morphometric analysis. In contrast, the stimulatory effect of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol on the caudal lobe of the immature baboon prostate and the prostatic urethral segment (a structure that is largely fibromuscular) was potentiated by the addition of 17 beta-estradiol. The weight of the immature baboon cranial prostate was increased by 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol treatment, but 17 beta estradiol did not potentiate androgen-induced growth. By morphometric analysis it could be shown that both the epithelial and stromal component of the immature baboon caudal prostate responded to 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (androstanediol) treatment and that the addition of 17 beta-estradiol had a slight, but significant, potentiating effect on the androstanediol-induced increase of epithelial volume.