ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Evidence indicates that prolactin plays a crucial role in the normal function and development of the prostate, but abnormal high levels of the hormone are associated with hyperplasia and cancer of the gland. AIMS: The present study was designed to describe the progressive specific histological abnormalities in the prostate of rats with chronic hyperprolactinemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prolactin was administered during 4; 12 or 24 weeks, and the resulting prostatic alterations were compared with control rats, and also with those treated with testosterone, or the combination of prolactin + testosterone. RESULTS: Rats treated with prolactin, testosterone or prolactin + testosterone expressed precancerous histological abnormalities in the dorsolateral and ventral portions of the prostate as early as in 4 weeks of treatment, but in all cases the malignancy increased after 12 or 24 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that chronic hyperprolactinemia is a cause of prostate precancerous pathologies.
Subject(s)
Hyperprolactinemia/complications , Prolactin/metabolism , Prostate/pathology , Prostatic Neoplasms/etiology , Animals , Hyperprolactinemia/metabolism , Male , Prolactin/administration & dosage , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Testosterone/administration & dosage , Testosterone/metabolismABSTRACT
The proliferating cells in fibromatoses are myofibroblasts that produce abundant stromal collagen and contain intracellular native and widely spaced collagen fibers. To assess the clinical and cellular effects of colchicine in such tumors, this drug was administered to three patients, one with musculoaponeurotic desmoid fibromatosis, one with Dupuytren's palmar fibromatosis, and one with Peyronie's disease. All three patients had an excellent clinical response, with reduction of tumor size and improvement of contracture. Two cases were studied ultrastructurally; the main cellular changes detected were collapse of the rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, reduction of myofilaments, and disappearance of intracellular widely spaced collagen. The findings from this study indicate another probable application for colchicine and support the concept that collagen fibers can be formed intracellularly.
