Effects of a high energy density diet in the "corpus cavernosum" of mice.

Erectile dysfunction is a common condition that affects men over age 40. It is highly related to obesity. The corpus cavernosum is the most important structure involved in erection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the structure of the corpus cavernosum of mice fed with a high energy density diet (HED). At 3 months of age, male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a HED diet (50% lipids) or standard chow (SC) diet (10% lipids) for 14 weeks. Afterwards, the animals were euthanized and the corpus cavernosum was analyzed through stereology. Statistical significance was calculated by the student's t-test (p < 0.05). The group fed with HED diet showed higher values of body weight, blood pressure and higher rates of cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose from the second week to the end of the experiment. The HED group showed a significant increase in the connective tissue (15%) and a decrease in smooth muscle fibers (41%). The testosterone concentration in the HED group was 63% lower than in SC animals. Animals fed with a HED presented reduced testosterone serum levels and morphological changes on the corpus cavernosum, which may be related to erectile dysfunction.

Collagen I and III and metalloproteinase gene and protein expression in prostate cancer in relation to Gleason score.

PURPOSE: To evaluate if the expression of metalloproteinase, collagen I and III are related to Gleason score, preoperative PSA and pathological stage in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study group included radical prostatectomy specimens of 33 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery from 2001 to 2009. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Gleason score=6 (13 patients), Gleason score=7 (10 patients), Gleason score ≥ 8 (10 patients). The control group included prostates of patients submitted to cystoprostatectomy and benign prostatic tissues adjacent to the cancer area. Specific areas of tissues were selected under microscope and further processed for collagen I and III analysis by real time PCR. In addition, 10 deparaffined sections of each group were used to evaluate collagen I, III and metalloproteinase immune expression. The results were correlated with Gleason score, preoperative PSA and pathological stage. RESULTS: We found significant difference in both collagen I and III gene expression between benign and tumoral areas in the prostate samples from Gleason score=6 (collagen I=0.4 ± 0.2 vs 5 ± 2.4, p < 0.05; collagen III=0.2 ± 0.06 vs 0.7 ± 0.1, p < 0.05) and Gleason score ≥ 8 (collagen I=8 ± 3.4 vs 1.4 ± 0.8, p < 0.07; collagen III=1.8 ± 0.5 vs 0.6 ± 0.1, p < 0.05). There was no correlation of collagen expression with Gleason score, preoperative PSA or pathological stage. There was a positive correlation between metalloproteinase expression and Gleason score (r(2)=0.47). CONCLUSIONS: The positive correlation between metalloproteinase expression and Gleason score suggests that metalloproteinase could be a promising factor to improve Gleason score evaluation. Its expression and regulation do not seem to be related with collagen degradation.

Collagen I and III and metalloproteinase gene and protein expression in prostate cancer in relation to Gleason score

PURPOSE: To evaluate if the expression of metalloproteinase, collagen I and III are related to Gleason score, preoperative PSA and pathological stage in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study group included radical prostatectomy specimens of 33 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery from 2001 to 2009. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Gleason score=6 (13 patients), Gleason score=7 (10 patients), Gleason score>8 (10 patients). The control group included prostates of patients submitted to cystoprostatectomy and benign prostatic tissues adjacent to the cancer area. Specific areas of tissues were selected under microscope and further processed for collagen I and III analysis by real time PCR. In addition, 10 deparaffined sections of each group were used to evaluate collagen I, III and metalloproteinase immune expression. The results were correlated with Gleason score, preoperative PSA and pathological stage. RESULTS: We found significant difference in both collagen I and III gene expression between benign and tumoral areas in the prostate samples from Gleason score=6 (collagen I=0.4±0.2 vs 5±2.4, p<0.05; collagen III=0.2±0.06 vs 0.7±0.1, p<0.05) and Gleason score>8 (collagen I=8±3.4 vs 1.4±0.8, p<0.07; collagen III=1.8±0.5 vs 0.6±0.1, p<0.05). There was no correlation of collagen expression with Gleason score, preoperative PSA or pathological stage. There was a positive correlation between metalloproteinase expression and Gleason score (r²=0.47). CONCLUSIONS: The positive correlation between metalloproteinase expression and Gleason score suggests that metalloproteinase could be a promising factor to improve Gleason score evaluation. Its expression and regulation do not seem to be related with collagen degradation.