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Updated: Aug 3, 2026
Isolation of Sertoli Cells and Peritubular Cells from Rat Testes
Published on: February 8, 2016
Differentiated rabbit prostatic stromal cells in primary culture display functional alpha1A-adrenoceptors
Delphine Boulbès1, Armelle Choquet, Stéphanie Barrère-Lemaire
1EA 2995, Faculté de Pharmacie, Montpellier, France.
Aims:
BPH is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation and increased contractility of prostatic smooth muscle cells. The activation of alpha1-adrenoceptors (alpha1-AR) seems involved in the latter event, but the lack of in vitro models expressing these receptors has hampered a more specific characterization of their role. In order to do so, we attempted to develop a new model of rabbit cultured prostatic stromal cells (PSC) in a non-proliferative and differentiated state.
Methods:
The expression of cytoskeletal and stromal markers was confirmed by immunohistochemistry on primary cultured PSC. Alpha1-AR subtype expression was assessed by RT-PCR, while receptor coupling to the ERK1/ERK2 and calcium pathways was studied by Western Blot and Fura-2 calcium imaging, respectively.
Results:
Cells grown under non-proliferative conditions displayed a differentiated phenotype, with expression of contractile cytoskeletal and stromal proteins. Furthermore, the alpha1A-AR was shown to activate ERK1/ERK2 as well as calcium signaling.
Conclusion:
These results emphasize the interest of this model for the characterization of PSC adrenergic regulation, in particular through the little-known alpha1A-AR.
