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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Murine Prostate Micro-dissection and Surgical Castration
Published on: May 11, 2016
Clusterin is not essential for androgen-regulated involution and regeneration of the normal mouse prostate
Dieter Fink1, Ladan Fazli, Bruce Aronow
1The Prostate Centre at VGH, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Background:
Inhibition of clusterin expression has been shown to enhance the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to chemo and hormone therapy. Clusterin antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are currently in phase II human clinical trials for treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer. However, the role of clusterin in androgen-regulated involution and regeneration of the normal prostate gland has not been established.
Methods:
Prostate involution and regeneration was examined in clusterin-deficient mice undergoing up to three cycles of androgen withdrawal and restoration.
Results:
Surprisingly, clusterin deficiency did not affect the apoptotic index, and the temporal biochemical and morphological changes associated with involution and regeneration of the normal adult prostate following multiple rounds of androgen withdrawal and replacement.
Conclusion:
Clusterin is not critical for normal prostate development or androgen-regulated involution and regrowth of the mouse prostate gland, suggesting that clusterin may have distinct functions in malignant versus normal prostatic epithelial cells.
Insights
Clusterin is not essential for normal prostate gland regeneration after androgen withdrawal. This finding suggests clusterin may have different roles in prostate cancer versus healthy prostate cells.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Clusterin inhibition improves prostate cancer treatment sensitivity.
- Clusterin antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are in clinical trials for prostate cancer.
- The role of clusterin in normal prostate involution and regeneration is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of clusterin in androgen-regulated prostate involution and regeneration.
- To determine if clusterin is critical for normal prostate gland function.
Main Methods:
- Examined prostate involution and regeneration in clusterin-deficient mice.
- Utilized multiple cycles of androgen withdrawal and restoration.
Main Results:
- Clusterin deficiency did not impact the apoptotic index during prostate involution and regeneration.
- Biochemical and morphological changes were unaffected by clusterin deficiency.
Conclusions:
- Clusterin is not critical for normal prostate development or androgen-regulated regeneration in mice.
- Clusterin may have distinct functions in malignant versus normal prostate epithelial cells.
