METAL–ANDROGEN INTERRELATIONSHIPS IN CARCINOMA AND HYPERPLASIA OF THE HUMAN PROSTATE

Zinc and cadmium concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy in normal and pathological human prostates. Our studies confirm that the values of zinc in normal tissue [6·84 ± 1·21 (s.e.m.) μmol/g] and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) (6·91 ± 1·19 μmol/g) are similar, while in neo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of endocrinology Vol. 71; no. 1; pp. 133 - 141
Main Authors Habib, F K, Hammond, G L, Lee, I R, Dawson, J B, Mason, M K, Smith, P H, Stitch, S R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England BioScientifica 01.10.1976
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Androgens - analysis
Cadmium - adverse effects
Cadmium - analysis
Dihydrotestosterone - analysis
Environmental Exposure
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases - chemically induced
Prostatic Hyperplasia - metabolism
Prostatic Neoplasms - etiology
Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism
Testosterone - analysis
Zinc - analysis
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Summary:Zinc and cadmium concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy in normal and pathological human prostates. Our studies confirm that the values of zinc in normal tissue [6·84 ± 1·21 (s.e.m.) μmol/g] and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) (6·91 ± 1·19 μmol/g) are similar, while in neoplastic tissues zinc concentrations were significantly lower (2·61 ± 0·45 μmol/g). The Cd2+ levels in BPH (23·11 ± 3·28 nmol/g) were, on the other hand, considerably higher than those found for normal tissues (5·15 ± 0·62 nmol/g). In agreement with other published reports, Cd2+ concentrations were found to be markedly increased in carcinomatous tissue (129·79 ± 22·22 nmol/g). No correlation was however established between the values for the two metals in either type of prostatic tissue. An established specific radioimmunoassay was used for the measurement of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and a distinct pattern emerged upon comparing these results with those for the zinc and cadmium concentrations. It appears that the concentrations of DHT in benign hypertrophy and of testosterone and DHT in carcinoma were inversely proportional to the levels of Zn2+ in abnormal tissue. In contrast, the DHT levels in the hypertrophied and malignant tissue were proportional to the Cd2+ concentrations.
ISSN:0022-0795
1479-6805
DOI:10.1677/joe.0.0710133