ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effect of procyanidin (PC) on rats with chronic abacterial prostatitis (CAP) and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The experimental rat model of autoimmune nonbacterial prostatitis was established. The animals were randomly divided into control group, model group, PC high dose, medium dose and low dose group (50, 25 and 10 mg · kg-1), and received the corresponding treatment on day 1, 2, 6 and 10. A placebo normal control group was also set. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in prostate. The expressions of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) in prostate tissue and plasma were detected. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed. RESULTS: The pathological change in CAP rats was improved after treating with PC, especially at medium or low dose. All the three doses of PC could reduce the gene expressions of IL-10 and MIP-1α in prostate tissue and the protein expressions of IL-10 and MIP-1α in serum of CAP rats. The three doses of PC all decreased the content of MDA in prostate tissue of CAP rats, and showed no significant effect on the activity of SOD in tissue or plasma. CONCLUSION: PC has potent therapeutic effect for chronic abacterial prostatitis, and its mechanism of action is partly related to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation effect.