The role of glutamine metabolism in castration-resistant prostate cancer / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Reprogramming of metabolism is a hallmark of tumors, which has been explored for therapeutic purposes. Prostate cancer (PCa), particularly advanced and therapy-resistant PCa, displays unique metabolic properties. Targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in PCa may benefit patients who have exhausted currently available treatment options and improve clinical outcomes. Among the many nutrients, glutamine has been shown to play a central role in the metabolic reprogramming of advanced PCa. In addition to amino acid metabolism, glutamine is also widely involved in the synthesis of other macromolecules and biomasses. Targeting glutamine metabolic network by maximally inhibiting glutamine utilization in tumor cells may significantly add to treatment options for many patients. This review summarizes the metabolic landscape of PCa, with a particular focus on recent studies of how glutamine metabolism alterations affect therapeutic resistance and disease progression of PCa, and suggests novel therapeutic strategies.

Identifying the role of apolipoprotein A-I in prostate cancer / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Although localized prostate cancer (PCa) can be cured by prostatectomy and radiotherapy, the development of effective therapeutic approaches for advanced prostate cancer, including castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) and neuroendocrine PCa (NEPC), is lagging far behind. Identifying a novel prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for early diagnosis and intervention is an urgent clinical need. Here, we report that apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), the major component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), is upregulated in PCa based on both bioinformatics and experimental evidence. The fact that advanced PCa shows strong ApoA-I expression reflects its potential role in driving therapeutic resistance and disease progression by reprogramming the lipid metabolic network of tumor cells. Molecularly, ApoA-I is regulated by MYC, a frequently amplified oncogene in late-stage PCa. Altogether, our findings have revealed a novel indicator to predict prognosis and recurrence, which would benefit patients who are prone to progress to metastasis or even NEPC, which is the lethal subtype of PCa.

MicroRNA expression profile in chronic nonbacterial prostatitis revealed by next-generation small RNA sequencing / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to be involved in the pathogenic initiation and progression of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP); however, the comprehensive expression profile of dysregulated miRNAs, relevant signaling pathways, and core machineries in CNP have not been fully elucidated. In the current research, CNP rat models were established through the intraprostatic injection of carrageenan into the prostate. Then, next-generation sequencing was performed to explore the miRNA expression profile in CNP. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) bioinformatical analyses were conducted to reveal the enriched biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components and signaling pathways. As a result, 1224, 1039, and 1029 known miRNAs were annotated in prostate tissues from the blank control (BC), normal saline injection (NS), and carrageenan injection (CAR) groups (n = 3 for each group), respectively. Among them, 84 miRNAs (CAR vs BC) and 70 miRNAs (CAR vs NS) with significantly different expression levels were identified. Compared with previously reported miRNAs with altered expression in various inflammatory diseases, the majority of deregulated miRNAs in CNP, such as miR-146b-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-150-5p, and miR-139-5p, showed similar expression patterns. Moreover, bioinformatics analyses have enriched mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), endocytosis, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathways. These pathways were all involved in immune response, which indicates the critical regulatory role of the immune system in CNP initiation and progression. Our investigation has presented a global view of the differentially expressed miRNAs and potential regulatory networks containing their target genes, which may be helpful for identifying the novel mechanisms of miRNAs in immune regulation and effective target-specific theragnosis for CNP.

Expression and clinical significance of N-Myc and p53 in prostate cancer tissues / 临床与实验病理学杂志

Purpose To detect the expression of N-Myc and p53 in the tissues of prostate cancer (PCa) patients and to explore the relationship between them and their significance.Methods A total of 63 patients with PCa and 50 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who underwent prostate surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were recruited in 2015-2016. The expression of N-Myc and p53 in pathological tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry of MaxVision method. Results The expression of N-Myc and p53 in PCa tissues was increased (P < 0.05). The expression of N-Myc and p53 in PCa tissues was correlated with bone metastases and TNM stage (P < 0.05), but not related to patient age, preoperative PSA level and other factors (P> 0.05). In addition, the expression of p53 was also correlated with Gleason score.Conclusion The high expression of N-Myc and p53 in PCa may involved in the malignant progression and metastasis of prostate cancer, and it is expected to become a new target for detecting PCa metastasis.

ASIC1a contributes to the symptom of pain in a rat model of chronic prostatitis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

This study aims to validate our hypothesis that acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) may contribute to the symptom of pain in patients with chronic prostatitis (CP). We first established a CP rat model, then isolated the L5-S2 spinal dorsal horn neurons for further studies. ASIC1a was knocked down and its effects on the expression of neurogenic inflammation-related factors in the dorsal horn neurons of rat spinal cord were evaluated. The effect of ASIC1a on the Ca2+ ion concentration in the dorsal horn neurons of rat spinal cord was measured by the intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) intensity. The effect of ASIC1a on the p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was also determined. ASIC1a was significantly upregulated in the CP rat model as compared with control rats. Acid-induced ASIC1a expression increased [Ca2+]i intensity in the dorsal horn neurons of rat spinal cord. ASIC1a also increased the levels of neurogenic inflammation-related factors and p-p38 expression in the acid-treated dorsal horn neurons. Notably, ASIC1a knockdown significantly decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the levels of p-p38 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in acid-treated dorsal horn neurons were significantly decreased in the presence of PcTx-1, BAPTA-AM, or SB203580. Our results showed that ASIC1a may contribute to the symptom of pain in patients with CP, at least partially, by regulating the p38/MAPK signaling pathway.

Detection of serum and tissue miR-421 in patients with prostate cancer and its diagnostic significance / 临床与实验病理学杂志

Purpose To detect the expression of miR-421 in serum and tissues of prostate cancer ( PCa) and its clinical value inPCa. Methods 62 cases of PCa and 46 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were enrolled in the Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical Universi-ty from December 2015 to December 2016. Another 42 cases of paraffin-embedded sections of PCa and 37 cases of BPH were al-so used in this study. The expression of miR-421 in serum was detected by real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The expression of miR-421 in tissues was detected by in situ hybridization. Results The expression of miR-421 in serum of patients with PCa and BPH was ( 2. 52 ± 1. 70 ) and ( 0. 82 ± 0. 65 ), respectively. Compared with the expression of BPH, the expression of miR- 421 in serum of PCa was increased (P＜0. 05). The expression of miR-421 in serum and tissues of patients with PCa was corre-lated with Gleason score, TNM clinical stage, and bone metasta-ses (P＜0. 05). It was not related to the patient's age, preop-erative PSA level and other factors ( P＞0. 05). Conclusion miR-421 is more abundant in PCa patients than that in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and is expected to become a diagnostic marker for PCa.

Related immunologic mechanisms of chronic prostatitis: Advances in studies / 中华男科学杂志

Chronic prostatitis is a common male disease with a high incidence rate and a serious impact on the patients' quality of life. The pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis remains unclear though it is considered to be possibly related to infection, inflammation, and abnormal pelvic nerve muscle activity. Recently, a growing number of studies have reported immune imbalance and changes of inflammatory cytokines in patients with chronic prostatitis as well as a close correlation of abnormal immune response with the occurrence of diseases, pelvic pain symptoms, mental symptoms, hyperalgesia, and so on. This review summarizes the latest advances in the studies of immunologic mechanisms of chronic prostatitis.

Correlation between premature ejaculation diagnostic tool and International Index of Erectile Function-15 in different types of premature ejaculation / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the correlation between the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) and International Index of Erectile Function-15 (IIEF-15) in different types of premature ejaculation (PE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed a cross-section survey among 352 PE patients received in the andrology clinic from December 2014 to December 2015 and 104 healthy men from the health examination center using basic demographic information (as on age, height, weight, education status, occupation, income, etc.), PEDT results, and IIEF-15 scores of the subjects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PE patients had remarkably higher PEDT and lower IIEF-15 scores than the healthy men (P<0.01). The PEDT score of the PE patients was negatively correlated with their total IIEF-15 score as well as with the scores in the domains of erectile function, sexual intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction after adjusted for age (P<0.01). The patients with acquired PE (APE) showed a lower IIEF-15 score than those with lifelong PE (LPE) (P<0.01). The PEDT score of the APE patients was correlated negatively with the total IIEF-15 score (r=－0.391, P<0.01) and the scores in the domains of erectile function (r=－0.362, P<0.01) and overall satisfaction (r=－0.621, P<0.01), but not correlated with intercourse satisfaction, sexual orgasm, or sexual desire. The PEDT score of the LPE group was correlated negatively with intercourse satisfaction (r=－0.286, P<0.05) but not correlated with either the total IIEF-15 score or the scores in the domains of erectile function, overall satisfaction, sexual orgasm, or sexual desire.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PE patients have a higher PEDT score and a lower IIEF-15 score than normal males. The PEDT score of APE patients is significantly correlated with the total IIEF-15 score, while that of LPE patients is correlated not with the total IIEF-15 score but with intercourse satisfaction.</p>

TURP plus endocrine therapy (ET) versus α1A-blockers plus ET for bladder outlet obstruction in advanced prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effect of transurethral resection of the prostate combined with endocrine therapy (TURP + ET) with that of αlA-blockers combined with ET ((αlA-b + ET) in the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa), and to investigate the safety of the TURP + ET for the treatment of PCa with BOO.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed 63 cases of PCa with BOO, 28 treated by αlA-b + ET and the other 35 by TURP + ET. We obtained the residual urine volume (RV), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and quality of life score (QoL) before and after treatment along with the overall survival rate of the patients, followed by comparison of the parameters between the two methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 3 months after treatment, RV, IPSS, and QoL in the TURP + ET group were significantly decreased from (137.8 ± 27.6) ml, (22.3 ± 3.6), and (4.2 ± 0.8) to (29 ± 13.6) ml, (7.8 ± 2.1), and (1.6 ± 0.5) respectively (P < 0.05), while Qmax increased from (5.6 ± 2.1) ml/s to (17.6 ± 2.7) ml/s (P < 0.05); the former three parameters in the αlA-b + ET group decreased from (133.6 ± 24.9) ml, (21.5 ± 3.2), and (4.7 ± 1.1) to (42 ± 18.3) ml, (12.8 ± 2.6), and (2.5 ± 0.7) respectively (P < 0.05), while the latter one increased from (6.3 ± 2.4) ml/s to (11.7 ± 2.3) ml/s (P < 0.05), all with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). The overall survival rate of the TURP + ET group was not significantly different from that of the αlA-b + ET group (51.4% vs 46.4% , P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TURP + ET is preferable to αlA-b + ET for its advantage of relieving BOO symptoms in advanced PCa without affecting the overall survival rate of the patients.</p>

Expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin in prostate cancer and their implications / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the differences in the expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin between high-risk prostate cancer and low- and medium-risk prostate cancer, and analyze their correlation with the age, serum PSA level, and Gleason score of the patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 42 cases of prostate cancer, which were divided into a low- and medium-risk group (group A, n = 15) and a high-risk group (group B, n = 27). We measured the expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin by immunohistochemical staining, compared their differences between the two groups, and analyzed their correlation with the age, serum PSA level, and Gleason score of the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of E-cadherin was significantly higher in group A than in B (6.1 +/- 0.51 vs 4.2 +/- 0.37, P < 0.01), and so was its positive rate (73.3% vs 25.9%, P < 0.05). The positive rate of E-cadherin was also markedly higher in the patients with serum PSA < 20 microg/L than in those with serum PSA > or = 20 microg/L (66.7% vs 29.6%, P < 0.05), and so was it in the patients with the Gleason score 5-7 than in those with 8-10 (60.9% vs 21.1%, P < 0.05). On the contrary, the N-cadherin expression was significantly lower in group A than in B (3.7 +/- 0.32 vs 7.5 +/- 0.58, P < 0.01), and so was its positive rate (13.3% vs 59.3%, P < 0.01). The positive rate of N-cadherin was also remarkably lower in the patients with the Gleason score 5-7 than in those with 8-10 (26.1% vs 63.2%, P < 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the N-cadherin expression between the patients with serum PSA < 20 microg/L and those with serum PSA > or = 20 microg/L (P > 0.05), nor in the expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin between the patients aged > or = 70 years and those aged < 70 years (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin are significantly different between high-risk prostate cancer and low- and medium-risk prostate cancer, which suggests that both may correlate with the invasion and metastasis of prostate cancer as well as with the serum PSA level and Gleason score of the patients.</p>

Impact of BKCa channel in prostate smooth muscle cells on the membrane potential in rats with chronic abacterial prostatitis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the impact of the BKCa channel in prostate smooth muscle cells (PSMCs) on the membrane potential in SD rats with chronic abacterial prostatitis (CAP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CAP models were established in 20 SD rats by castration and injection of 17 beta-estrogen, and another 20 were taken as normal controls. PSMCs were cultured and purified in vitro, and treated with DiBAC4, followed by quantitative observations on the dynamic changes of the cell membrane potential by laser confocal microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The extracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]o) was increased and the BKCa channel was activated, which induced the hyperpolarization of the PSMC membrane in both the CAP models and normal control rats. This effect was weakened with Iberiotoxin (IbTX), a specific blocker of the BKCa channel, but the amplitude of the hyperpolarization was obviously lower in the CAP than in the control group. The DiBAC4 fluorescence intensity induced by hyperpolarization was 18.78 +/- 2.92 in the former and 38.85 +/- 7.10 in the latter (P < 0.05), while that induced by IbTX was 1.61 +/- 0.46 and 6.12 +/- 1.32 (P < 0.05), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Significant decrease of BKCa-mediated hyperpolarization in the CAP model can reduce its abilities of regulating the membrane potential and suppressing the excessive contraction of PSMCs, which may result in pelvic pain syndrome and lower urinary tract symptoms.</p>

Mammalian target of rapamycin regulates androgen receptor and Akt phosphorylation in prostate cancer 22RV1 cells / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the roles of the mammalian target of rapamycin-1 and -2 (mTORC1 and TORC2) in the proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer 22RV1 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After silencing mTORC1 and TORC2, we examined the proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer 22RV1 cells by methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay and flow cytometry, respectively, and detected the expressions of the androgen receptor (AR) and Akt phosphorylation in the prostate cancer 22RV1 cells by Western blot after transfecting Raptor-siRNA and Rictor-siRNA to the 22RV1 cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MTT showed that the prostate cancer 22RV1 cells had no significant change in the growth rate after mTORC1 silence (P > 0.05), but their proliferation was markedly inhibited after mTORC2 silence (P < 0.01). Flow cytometry revealed a dramatic increase in the apoptosis of the 22RV1 cells after mTORC1 silence (P < 0.01), but no obvious change after mTORC2 silence (P > 0.05). Western blot exhibited that mTORC1 silence significantly increased the expression of AR and Akt phosphorylation (P < 0.05), while mTORC2 silence markedly decreased them (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>mTORC2 is not only required for the survival of prostate cancer 22RV1 cells, but also a promising therapeutic target of prostate cancer.</p>

Prostatic neuroendocrine cells and their association with chronic prostatitis / 中华男科学杂志

Neuroendocrine cells are abundant in all the body tissues and organs as well as the nervous system, either the central or the peripheral nervous system. In the normal prostate tissue, there are a few neuroendocrine cells, too, in addition to basal and epithelial cells. Prostatic neuroendocrine cells play the function of regulating the development, secretion and differentiation of the prostate. Recent studies show that prostatic neuroendocrine cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis through their activity and secreted products. This article presents an overview on the origin, distribution, morphology, structure, secretion and functions of prostatic neuroendocrine cells and their association with chronic prostatitis.

Menopause-like symptoms among old and middle-aged males in Hefei area / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To access the prevalence of menopause-like symptoms, and their related factors in old and middle-aged males in the area of Hefei.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study included 1 026 males aged over 45 years that came to the clinic for health examination. We collected their personal data, and evaluated their general health status and the results of the questionnaire investigation using the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total incidence of menopause-like symptoms was 64.7% among the old and middle-aged males in Hefei area, of which 58.1% were mild, 30.9% moderate and 11.0% severe. The average AMS score was 31.2 +/- 6.8, in which the scores on psychological, physical and sexual function symptoms were 8.3 +/- 2.1, 12.4 +/- 4.8 and 9.3 +/- 4.5, respectively. Sexual function symptoms were increased significantly with the increase of age (P < 0.05), but psychological and physical symptoms showed no obvious correlation with age (P > 0.05). The main risk factors of menopause-like symptoms included age, smoking, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity, but physical exercise was an important protective factor against them.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>With the increase of age, the prevalence of male menopause-like symptoms rises and sexual function declines gradually, but psychological and physical scores are not affected significantly. Age, general health status and lifestyle are closely associated with the prevalence of menopause-like symptoms among old and middle-aged males.</p>

Intracellular calcium ion concentration in the prostate smooth muscle cells of chronic abacterial prostatitis rat models and normal controls / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the difference in intracellular calcium ion [Ca2+]i concentration in prostate smooth muscle cells (PSMCs) between SD rat models of chronic abacterial prostatitis (CAP) and normal controls, and to evaluate the role of [Ca2+]i concentration in CAP.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We established CAP models in SD rats using purified prostate protein and Freund's complete adjuvant, cultured in vitro and then purified the PSMCs of both the CAP models and normal controls. Continuous dynamic scanning was performed under the laser confocal scanning microscope after incubation of the cells with FLUO-3AM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fluorescence intensities of [Ca2+]i in the PSMCs were 80.39 +/- 9.00 and 27.95 +/- 10.04 in the CAP models and normal controls, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The concentration of [Ca2+]i increased in the PSMCs of the CAP rat models, which might enhance the constriction of PSMCs and subsequently increase the sensibility to pain and cause lower abdominal pain.</p>

Quantitative expression of voltage-dependent calcium channels in prostate smooth muscle cells of rats with estradiol-induced chronic nonbacterial prostatitis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct a rat model of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CP) and investigate the difference in the quantitative expression of voltage-dependent calcium channels of prostate smooth muscle cells (PSMCs) between the models and controls.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We established a CP rat model by estrogen induction, cultured and purified the PSMCs in vitro, and extracted total RNA by Trizol. Then we measured the mRNA expression of the cal subunit in the calcium channel subtypes by reverse transcription and SYBR Green I real time RT-PCR, and compared it with that of the controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of the L-, T- and P/Q-type calcium channels were found in both the CP and control groups, and that of the CaV1.2 L-type calcium channel was significantly increased in the former as compared with the latter (0.048 +/- 0.024 versus 0.031 +/- 0.015, t = 2.846, P = 0.007), but there were no statistically significant differences in the T- and P/Q-type calcium channels between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The number of CaV1.2 L-type calcium channels of PSMCs and calcium influx were increased in CP patients, which may be involved in the mechanism of CP.</p>

Treatment of chronic prostatitis in Chinese men / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

The aim of this study is to assess the status of treatment of chronic prostatitis (CP) in Chinese men. A population-based cross-sectional survey was performed, in which 15 000 men aged between 15 and 60 years were randomly selected to receive a questionnaire designed to assess National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptoms Index (NIH-CPSI) status, therapeutic efficacy and 28 other items. A total of 12 743 men (84.95%) completed the questionnaire, of whom 1 071 (8.4%) were identified as having prostatitis-like symptoms and 517 (4.5%) were diagnosed with CP according to NIH-CPSI criteria and prostatitis-like symptomatology. Of the CP patients, 372 (65%) underwent long-term routine treatment 12 times per year. Additionally, 217 (72.8%) patients received antibiotic therapy and 215 (79.3%) men showed therapeutic effects. The treatment cost USD 1 151 (8 059 yuan) per person per year on average. Most CP patients received routine treatment, in most cases with antibiotics. Treatment was costly and most CP patients were not satisfied with its effectiveness. Antibacterial treatment might have been effective primarily in patients with bacterial disease.

Transient receptor potential ion channels and prostatic diseases / 中华男科学杂志

Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels are widely distributed in different kinds of cells. TRP expresses highly in the prostatic cancer epithelia at different levels, but whether it expresses in chronic prostatitis epithelia or not remains poorly understood. Investigating the roles of TRP ion channels in the pathogenesis of prostatic diseases could afford us a new approach to their diagnosis and therapy.

Progress in the studies of semen delayed liquefaction from chronic prostatitis / 中华男科学杂志

Chronic prostatitis (CP) is a common disease among adult men. It can result in male infertility mainly by alternating the semen quality, volume, pH, component, viscosity and liquefaction. There seems to be a strong association between CP and semen delayed liquefaction. Researches on the mechanism of semen delayed liquefaction resulting from CP mainly focus on the proteolytic ferment, plasminogen activator, prostate acid phosphatase, tissue factor, lack of zinc, and pH. This article briefly reviews the progress in these aspects.

Potassium channel blocker regulates the proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells in SD rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the regulatory effect of potassium channel blocker (tetraethylammonium [TEA], aminopyridine [4-AP], glibenclamide [Glib]) on the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The primary culture was prepared by collagenase dissociation of minced prostatic tissues. Cells were cultured in serum-free prostate epithelial cell growth media and identified by immunocytochemical studies. TEA and 4-AP at the concentration of 1, 5 and 10 mmol/L and Glib at the concentration of 10, 50 and 100 mol/L were added, and after 24, 48 and 72 hours of culturing, a cell column diagram was drawn and the cell number counted. The post-passage cell growth was observed by MTT assay and Hoechst33258 nucleus staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cultured cells showed the typical morphological features of epithelia, with positive stain. MTT assay and Hoechst33258 staining showed that TEA, 4-AP and Glib at the increasing concentration effected different degrees of proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells after 24, 48 and 72 h (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The potassium channel blocker is a direct physiological regulator of the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells.</p>