Androgen receptor and 5 alpha-reductase activity in the epithelium and the stroma of human benign prostatic hyperplasia

• Published in: Hinyokika kiyo. Acta urologica Japonica Vol. 31; no. 5; pp. 785 - 790
• Main Authors: Oishi, K, Okada, K, Yoshida, O, Romijn, J C, Bolt de Vries, J, Schröder, F H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01.05.1985
• Subjects: 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Epithelium - metabolism; Humans; Male; Prostate - metabolism; Prostatic Hyperplasia - enzymology; Prostatic Hyperplasia - metabolism; Prostatic Hyperplasia - pathology; Receptors, Androgen - metabolism
• ISSN: 0018-1994

An average of 20 X 10(6) nucleated cells were obtained from 1 g tissue of human benign prostatic hyperplasia by mechanical separation technique. Of these cells, 96.2% showed acid phosphatase activity and this was 10 times higher than the remaining stromal fraction on a protein base. The total activity of 5 alpha-reductase was 81 times higher in stroma than epithelium and the total activity of 3(beta)-oxidoreductase was 29 times higher in stroma. Androgen receptor amount measured in total tissue, epithelium and stroma were 100, 29 and 62 fmol R1881/mg DNA, respectively. These results suggest that androgen metabolism takes place mainly in the stroma of human BPH tissue, and that BPH is probably the disease of prostatic stroma.