Histomorphometric features of ventral prostate in different aged rats after central ghrelin treatment

Abstract

Abstract. Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand of growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a), has emerged as pleiotropic modulator of diverse biological functions, including energy homeostasis and recently, reproduction. The influence of intracerebroventricularly (ICV) administered ghrelin (1 μg/day/rat for 5 days) to rats of different ages, i.e., peripubertal (38 days), adult (60 days) and middle-aged (180 days) on the ventral prostate size and morphology, serum testosterone levels and testis weight was examined. Ghrelin treatment significantly increased (p < 0.05) absolute ventral prostate weight in peripubertal and middle-aged rats, by 27% and 37% respectively, due to enhancement of epithelial and/or luminal compartment of the gland. In adult rats, both absolute and relative volumes of the acinar lumen were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), by 38% and 44% respectively, which was associated with significant increases (p < 0.05) in relative and absolute volumes of interacinar stroma, whereas ventral prostate weigh was unchanged. Irrespective of animal age, ghrelin did not affect serum testosterone levels. These are the first results of ghrelin treatment effects on healthy prostate appearance, which allow us to conclude that the rat ventral prostate response to ghrelin depends on the developmental stage of animals. Our results merit further investigations and may have clinical implications, especially in the light of data on possible role of ghrelin in prostate hypertrophy and adenomas.

Immunolocalisation of ghrelin and obestatin in human testis, seminal vesicles, prostate and spermatozoa

“…Little is known about localisation and effects of ghrelin in the other parts of the male genital tract. Some studies are focused on the role of ghrelin in prostate cancer (Yeh et al ., ) and a recent study demonstrated that ghrelin administration to rats of different ages increased ventral prostate weight in peripubertal and middle‐aged rats (Plecas‐Solarovic et al ., ).…”

High-Fat Diet Induced Gut Microbiota Alterations Associating With Ghrelin/Jak2/Stat3 Up-Regulation to Promote Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Development

“…Ghrelin was also found in prostate ( Gnanapavan et al, 2002 ) previously. Recent study showed that absolute ventral prostate weight in peripubertal and middle-aged rats was significantly increased by Ghrelin treatment ( Plecas-Solarovic et al, 2012 ).…”