MMP-2 and MMP-9 localization and activity in the female prostate during estrous cycle

Abstract

The gerbil female prostate undergoes morphological and physiological changes resulting from hormonal fluctuations that occur during the reproductive cycle. These repetitive cycles of glandular growth and regression are followed by an extensive reconstruction and remodeling of prostate stroma throughout the reproductive life of the female gerbil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect that the hormonal fluctuations of the reproductive cycle have on the stromal remodeling and the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and -9 in the adult female gerbil prostate. For this, serological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and biochemical methods were employed. The results showed that the major stromal alteration coincide with the peak of estradiol, which occurs in estrus, and with the peak of progesterone, occurring during diestrus II. MMP-2 and -9 presented a similar pattern of expression and activity during estrous cycle. The estrus was the phase of greater expression and activity of MMP-2 and -9. On the other hand, in DI and DII, the tissue expression and activity of MMP-2 and -9 was very weak. These results are important since they suggest the involvement of estradiol and progesterone in regulating the expression and activity of MMP-2 and -9 in adult gerbil female prostate.

Progesterone as a morphological regulatory factor of the male and female gerbil prostate

“…The serum dosages of progesterone, oestradiol and testosterone were administered according to a published method (Fochi et al 2008;Santos et al 2011), in which chemiluminescence was performed in automated Vitros-ECi (Johnson & Johnson, Orthoclinical Diagnostics Division, Rochester, NY, USA), which can detect levels of 0.1-3814 pg/ml for oestradiol, 0.1-150 ng/ml for testosterone and 0.1-100 ng/ml for progesterone. The serum dosages of progesterone, oestradiol and testosterone were administered according to a published method (Fochi et al 2008;Santos et al 2011), in which chemiluminescence was performed in automated Vitros-ECi (Johnson & Johnson, Orthoclinical Diagnostics Division, Rochester, NY, USA), which can detect levels of 0.1-3814 pg/ml for oestradiol, 0.1-150 ng/ml for testosterone and 0.1-100 ng/ml for progesterone.…”

“…Blood samples were collected through cervical vessel rupture by decapitation, in 4-ml test tubes with separating gel. The serum dosages of progesterone, oestradiol and testosterone were administered according to a published method (Fochi et al 2008;Santos et al 2011), in which chemiluminescence was performed in automated Vitros-ECi (Johnson & Johnson, Orthoclinical Diagnostics Division, Rochester, NY, USA), which can detect levels of 0.1-3814 pg/ml for oestradiol, 0.1-150 ng/ml for testosterone and 0.1-100 ng/ml for progesterone. The hormonal ratios were calculated by dividing the dosages values of each animal, in each group individually, and not only by dividing the means obtained for each group.…”

Effects of exposure to estradiol and estradiol plus testosterone on the mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) female prostate

“…According to Fochi et al (), with revised data from Santos et al (), the evaluation of gerbil adult female testosterone serum dosage demonstrated that levels are constant during all phases of the estrous cycle. Nevertheless, it was observed high variation of estradiol and progesterone serum levels.…”

“…Morphofunctional changes of the prostate followed these alterations: the gland had become more developed and with greater secretory activity during estrus phase, period which coincides with estradiol peak, and less developed and active during diestrus II phase, period which coincides with progesterone peak. Furthermore, estradiol and progesterone seems to be related to the MMP‐2 and −9 expression regulation, which are involved in stroma remodeling and, thus, with gland dynamism (Santos et al, ).…”

Effects of androgen on vascular and inflammatory biomarkers in a female hypertensive population

“…However, it is not clear whether androgen can modulate the hypertension occurrences in PCOS. Female hormone (estrogen) increases VEGF and MMP, but decreases IL-6 in females [21][22][23]. Therefore, it is possible that androgen modulates the pathophysiology of hypertension in females.…”