Apoptosis Induction and Clusterin Expression of NRP-152 Cells by Tamsulosin

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to know whether and how tamsulosin induces apoptosis of normal rat prostate cells, and the relationship between apoptosis and clusterin expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a prostate cell line, NRP-152 cells which are the basal epithelium cell originated from rat prostate. The NRP-152 cells were treated with various concentrations(50, 100, 200, 400 uM) of tamsulosin for 24 h. To evaluate apoptosis, the cultured NRP-152 cells were stained with Heochst 33258 and Propidium Iodide (PI) without fixation. We also examined DNA fragmentation analysis to confirm apoptosis. In addition, to elucidate the signal transduction pathway by which apoptosis is induced, we examined Bcl-2 family proteins such as Bcl-2, Bax, Bad, Bcl-xL, and Bim by real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: After tamsulosin treatment, the rate of apoptosis was 25% at 100 micrometer, 50% at 200 micrometer, and 63% at 400 micrometer, whereas the rate of necrosis was 10% at 100 micrometer, 38% at 200 micrometer, and 56% at 400 micrometer. DNA fragmentation was also gradually increased and the highest at 400 micrometer, similar to apoptotic cell rates. As a result of real-time RT-PCR, there was significant difference of Bcl-2 and Bim mRNA expression among the groups. Expression of clusterin protein was significantly increased after treatment of tamsulosin, even as low as 50 micrometer concentration. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that tamsulosin causes the cell death of NRP-152 cells, displaying low concentration of tamsulosin induces apoptosis, but high concentration occurs necrosis. Bim, a proapoptotic factor of the Bcl-2 family, expression was increased in the cells treated with tamsulosin, whereas Bcl-2 expression was decreased. The present study suggests that clusterin may play a role in the process of apoptosis induced by tamsulosin and Bim could be involved in the apoptosis.

The Efficacy of Transurethral Resection of Prostate on the Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Detrusor Hyperactivity with Impaired Contractility

PURPOSE: Detrusor hyperactivity with impaired contractility(DHIC) can be found in many elderly patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). It is hard to expect the efficacy of transurethral resection of prostate(TURP) on such patients. Therefore, we retrospectively estimated the effect of TURP on BPH patients with DHIC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen male patients with BPH and DHIC were underwent TURP. Through urodynamic studies, DHIC was identified. Findings of bladder outlet obstruction were evaluated with TRUS and/or diagnostic cystoscopy in all patients. They were requested to go through uroflowmetry and international prostate symptom score(IPSS), before and after TURP. The subjective satisfaction scale was measured after TURP. RESULTS: Total IPSS(from 20.6 to 12.5), obstructive symptom score(from 11.5 to 6.0), and maximal flow rate (from 6.0 ml/sec to 14.6 ml/sec) of the patients were improved significantly(p0.05). Only 2(12%) of the patients were unsatisfied with the outcomes of TURP. CONCLUSION: We suggest that TURP can be used as a good therapeutic option for selected patients with BPH accompanied with DHIC.