Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common clinical problems in urology. While the precise molecular etiology remains unclear, sex steroids have been implicated in the development and maintenance of BPH. Sufficient data exists linking androgens and androgen receptor pathways to BPH and use of androgen reducing compounds, such as 5α-reductase inhibitors which block the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, are a component of the standard of care for men with LUTS attributed to an enlarged prostate. However, BPH is a multifactorial disease and not all men respond well to currently available treatments, suggesting factors other than androgens are involved. Testosterone, the primary circulating androgen in men, can also be metabolized via CYP19/aromatase into the potent estrogen, estradiol-17β. The prostate is an estrogen target tissue and estrogens directly and indirectly affect growth and differentiation of prostate. The precise role of endogenous and exogenous estrogens in directly affecting prostate growth and differentiation in the context of BPH is an understudied area. Estrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have been shown to promote or inhibit prostate proliferation signifying potential roles in BPH. Recent research has demonstrated that estrogen receptor signaling pathways may be important in the development and maintenance of BPH and LUTS; however, new models are needed to genetically dissect estrogen regulated molecular mechanisms involved in BPH. More work is needed to identify estrogens and associated signaling pathways in BPH in order to target BPH with dietary and therapeutic SERMs.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) are common in older men and can contribute to lower urinary tract symptoms that significantly impact quality of life. Few existing models of BOO and BPH use physiological levels of hormones associated with disease progression in humans in a genetically manipulable organism. We present a model of BPH and BOO induced in mice with testosterone (T) and 17β-estradiol (E(2)). Male mice were surgically implanted with slow-releasing sc pellets containing 25 mg T and 2.5 mg E(2) (T+E(2)). After 2 and 4 months of hormone treatment, we evaluated voiding patterns and examined the gross morphology and histology of the bladder, urethra, and prostate. Mice treated with T+E(2) developed significantly larger bladders than untreated mice, consistent with BOO. Some mice treated with T+E(2) had complications in the form of bladder hypertrophy, diverticula, calculi, and eventual decompensation with hydronephrosis. Hormone treatment caused a significant decrease in the size of the urethral lumen, increased prostate mass, and increased number of prostatic ducts associated with the prostatic urethra, compared with untreated mice. Voiding dysfunction was observed in mice treated with T+E(2), who exhibited droplet voiding pattern with significantly decreased void mass, shorter void duration, and fewer sustained voids. The constellation of lower urinary tract abnormalities, including BOO, enlarged prostates, and voiding dysfunction seen in male mice treated with T+E(2) is consistent with BPH in men. This model is suitable for better understanding molecular mechanisms and for developing novel strategies to address BPH and BOO.

ObjectiveRecent studies have associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with prostatic fibrosis, but a definitive link between collagen deposition and LUTS has yet to be demonstrated. The objective of this study was to evaluate ECM and collagen content within normal glandular prostate tissue and glandular BPH, and to evaluate the association of clinical parameters of LUTS with collagen content.MethodsFibrillar collagen and ECM content was assessed in normal prostate (48 patients) and glandular BPH nodules (24 patients) using Masson's trichrome stain and Picrosirius red stain. Second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging was used to evaluate collagen content. Additional BPH tissues (n = 47) were stained with Picrosirius red and the association between clinical parameters of BPH/LUTS and collagen content was assessed.ResultsECM was similar in normal prostate and BPH (p = 0.44). Total collagen content between normal prostate and glandular BPH was similar (p = 0.27), but a significant increase in thicker collagen bundles was observed in BPH (p = 0.045). Using SHG imaging, collagen content in BPH (mean intensity = 62.52; SEM = 2.74) was significantly higher than in normal prostate (51.77±3.49; p = 0.02). Total collagen content was not associated with treatment with finasteride (p = 0.47) or α-blockers (p = 0.52), pre-TURP AUA symptom index (p = 0.90), prostate-specific antigen (p = 0.86), post-void residual (PVR; p = 0.32), prostate size (p = 0.21), or post-TURP PVR (p = 0.51). Collagen content was not associated with patient age in patients with BPH, however as men aged normal prostatic tissue had a decreased proportion of thick collagen bundles.ConclusionsThe proportion of larger bundles of collagen, but not total collagen, is increased in BPH nodules, suggesting that these large fibers may play a role in BPH/LUTS. Total collagen content is independent of clinical parameters of BPH and LUTS. If fibrosis and overall ECM deposition are associated with BPH/LUTS, this relationship likely exists in regions of the prostate other than glandular hyperplasia.

Androgens and estrogens, acting via their respective receptors, are important in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The goal of this study was to quantitatively characterize the tissue distribution and staining intensity of androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), and assess cells expressing both AR and ERα, in human BPH compared to normal prostate. A tissue microarray composed of normal prostate and BPH tissue was used and multiplexed immunohistochemistry was performed to detect AR and ERα. We used a multispectral imaging platform for automated scanning, tissue and cell segmentation and marker quantification. BPH specimens had an increased number of epithelial and stromal cells and increased percentage of epithelium. In both stroma and epithelium, the mean nuclear area was decreased in BPH relative to normal prostate. AR expression and staining intensity in epithelial and stromal cells was significantly increased in BPH compared to normal prostate. ERα expression was increased in BPH epithelium. However, stromal ERα expression and staining intensity was decreased in BPH compared to normal prostate. Double positive (AR & ERα) epithelial cells were more prevalent in BPH, and fewer double negative (AR & ERα) stromal and epithelial negative cells were observed in BPH. These data underscore the importance of tissue layer localization and expression of steroid hormone receptors in the prostate. Understanding the tissue-specific hormone action of androgens and estrogens will lead to a better understanding of mechanisms of pathogenesis in the prostate and may lead to better treatment for BPH.

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Androgens and estrogens, working together, promote prostate cancer (PRCA) initiation and progression, with androgens acting via androgen receptor (AR) and estrogens acting primarily through estrogen receptor-α (ERα). While the interplay between these steroid hormones has been established, the interaction between steroid hormone receptors in prostatic disease remains unstudied. The goal of this study was to objectively determine the incidence, stage specificity, and tissue/cell type specificity of AR and ERα expression, both independently and simultaneously, *

The University of Warhingtoni Early Entrance Program (EEP) enables intellectual4 advanced adolescents to enter college without attending high school. The program has a demonstrated, positive effect on gifed students' academic development. What is less clear is the social and emotional impact of early college entrance. Thirty-one Early Entrance students participated in one-hour focus group discussions in which they discussed their social and emotional experiences as young college students. Although participants expressed varying degrees of comfrt in diverse social situations, all believed themselves to be more mature than they would have been had they gone to high school and all reported thcmsc/ves to be well-socialized According to participants, the principle socio-emotional strcngthz. of the EEp are its acceptance of individual diferences. its encouragement of excellence andpersonal responsibility. and the solidariy and sense of belonging it ofirs students.dolescence is a critical developmental period for young people in contemporary Western culture.

Purpose While estrogens are important in prostate growth and play a role in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), no current therapies directly target estrogen action. Estrogens act primarily via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ). Using a mouse model, we evaluated the relative contribution of these receptors to bladder complications of BPH. We also evaluated prevention of these bladder complications by selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), raloxifene and tamoxifen (ERα selective antagonists) and (R,R)-5,11-Diethyl-5,6,11,12-tetrahydro-2,8-chrysenediol (R,R-THC, ERβ selective antagonist). Materials and Methods Adult male C57bl/6 mice received implants of 25 mg testosterone (T) and 2.5 mg 17β-estradiol (E2) slow release pellets and untreated controls underwent sham surgery. We used ERα and ERβ knockout (KO) mice compared to their respective wild type (WT) littermates to probe contributions of ER subtypes. WT mice treated with T+E2 were compared to mice treated with T+E2 and 25 mg SERM to evaluate prevention of BPH complications with SERMs. Results While ERαWT and ERβWT littermates treated with T+E2 developed large bladders with urinary retention, ERαKO mice treated with T+E2 did not. ERβKO mice treated with T+E2 developed large bladders with urinary retention and increased bladder mass. Co-treatment with the ERα antagonist raloxifene resulted in decreased bladder mass compared to WT mice treated with T+E2, while bladders from mice treated with the ERβ antagonist R,R-THC were similar to T+E2-treated mice. Conclusions ERα, but not ERβ, is a key mediator of bladder complications of BPH, and is a potential target for future therapies.