ABSTRACT
The B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) gene is an important member of the Bcl-2 family, a type of protein that plays an important role in the process of cell apoptosis. Bcl-2 does not change the rate of cell proliferation, but prolongs the life and increases the number of cells by counteracting a series of apoptosis. In the recent years, more and more evidence has shown a close correlation of the Bcl-2 gene with the development and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disease whose mechanism is not yet fully understood but is drawing more and more attention towards the role of cell apoptosis.
Subject(s)
Prostatic Hyperplasia/genetics , Prostatic Hyperplasia/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics , Animals , Apoptosis , Humans , Male , Mice , RatsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of Longchang Granule in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS: Rat models of prostate hyperplasia were made by castration and testosterone propionate injection. After treated respectively with Longchang Granule and Longbishu by gastrogavage for 30 days, all the model rats were killed and their prostate glands harvested for the measurement of the wet weight and detection of the expression of bax in the prostatic hyperplastic tissues by RV 2-step method. RESULTS: The wet weight of the prostate was (0.61 +/- 0.03) g in the blank control group, (0.95 +/- 0.04) g in the model group, (0.73 +/- 0.02) g in the Longbishu group, (0.80 +/- 0.05) g in the low-dose Longchang group, (0.78 +/- 0.07) g in the medium-dose Longchang group and (0.68 +/- 0.03) g in the high-dose Longchang group, with significant differences between the model and the intervention groups (P < 0.05). The prostate indexes in the above groups were 0.143 +/- 0.006, 0.226 +/- 0.008, 0.172 +/- 0.004, 0.199 +/- 0.012, 0.181 +/- 0.010 and 0.168 +/- 0.003, respectively, and the expressions of bax by mean optical density were 0.226 +/- 0.010, 0.184 +/- 0.005, 0.206 +/- 0.015, 0.199 +/- 0.001, 0.202 +/- 0.003 and 0.211 +/- 0.003, respectively, both with significant differences between the model and the intervention groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Longchang Granule can effectively reduce the wet weight of the prostate and alleviate its pathological changes in BPH rats, the mechanism of which may be associated with its effect of upregulating the expression of bax and accelerating cell apoptosis in the prostate tissues.
Subject(s)
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use , Phytotherapy , Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy , Prostatic Hyperplasia/metabolism , bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism , Animals , Apoptosis , Male , Prostatic Hyperplasia/chemically induced , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Testosterone/adverse effectsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells of rats caused by experimental varicocele and effect of soluble granules of Shengjing on the apoptosis. METHODS: Sixty Wistar male rats were divided into three group: control group, model group, and treatment group. Experimental varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in Wistar rat. Apoptosis cells in the testes were detected by in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) Technique. RESULTS: The apoptosis index in model group was remarkably higher than that in control group (P < 0.001). There was significant difference between treatment and model groups in apoptosis index. CONCLUSION: The apoptosis of spermatogenic cells by varicocele may play a important role in leading to subfertility. The soluble granules of Shengjing have negative effects on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells. The medicine can not only protect spermic production but improve the ability of procreation of testes.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/drug effects , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Spermatozoa/pathology , Varicocele/pathology , Animals , Infertility, Male/drug therapy , Infertility, Male/etiology , Male , Phytotherapy , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Spermatozoa/drug effects , Varicocele/complications , Varicocele/drug therapyABSTRACT
Prostate cancer ( PCa) is an important genitourinary malignancy with increasing morbidity and mortality. Glutathione S-transferase P1 ( GSTP1) , as a phrase- II enzyme, has an important role in the activation and detoxification of carcinogens. There is a close association between GSTP1 gene polymorphisms and the risk of Pca. GSTP1 CpG island hypermethylation can reliably distinguish Pca from benign prostatic hyperplasia( BPH) and promises to be an important molecular marker for the diagnosis of Pca. This paper summarizes the association of GSTP1 with the diagnosis and risk of Pca.