Lydie Auger-Pourmarin, Pierre Roubert and Pierre Etienne Chabrier
Institut Henri Beaufour, 5, Avenue du Canada, Z.A. de Courtaboeuf, 91966
Les Ulis Cedex, France
Abstract: Endothelin receptors were characterized in rat prostate
and potential modification of these receptors was investigated in prostatic
hypertrophy induced by testosterone. Both ETA and ETB
endothelin receptor mRNA were detected in rat prostate, whereas binding
experiments show the presence of only ETA receptors. Testosterone
administration produced a 75% increase in prostate weight. Although the
density of prostatic endothelin receptors was decreased from 348+/-75.0
fmol/mg protein in control rats to 252+/-39.9 fmol/mg protein in testosterone-treated
animals, the total amount of receptors per prostate was unchanged. The steady-state
level of ETA- and ETB-receptor mRNA was not altered
by testosterone treatment. These results suggest that endothelin receptors
are not affected in prostatic hypertrophy induced by testosterone.
Keywords: Prostate, Endothelin receptor, Testosterone