Detection of the apoptosis-suppressing gene bcl-2 in prostate / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the role of bcl 2 gene expression in human prostate. Methods The level of bcl 2 gene mRNA expression were investigated by in situ hybridization in 11 cases of fetal prostates, 27 cases of adult (specimens obtained from autopsy)and 60 cases of hyperplastic prostates. Results In fetal prostates, positive signals were detected in all epithelial cells of the prostate buds, while in adult and hyperplastic specimens, positive signals were predominantly concentrated to the basal cell layer of the epithelium, with little involvement of the secretory epithelial cells. The expression in hyperplastic prostates was significantly higher than in normal ones and that of the basal epithelial cells was significantly higher than the secretory ones in both the normal prostates and the hyperplastic ones. Conclusions Bcl 2 gene may play an important role in regulating the apoptosis of the basal cells while if plays a secondary role in the secretory cells of the prostate.