Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Generation of a Mouse Prostate Organoid-Based Model for Studying Host-Pathogen Interactions
Published on: February 27, 2026
Regulation of surfactant protein D in the rodent prostate
Rebecca E Oberley1, Kelli L Goss, Amado A Quintar
1Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, USA, CO 80206, USA. oberleyr@njc.org
Background:
Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is an innate immune protein that is present in mucosal lined surfaces throughout the human body, including the male reproductive tract. In the present study, we characterized the regulation of SP-D expression in the mouse and rat prostate.
Methods:
Real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunostaining were used to characterize SP-D mRNA and protein in the mouse male reproductive tract. In order to evaluate the effects of testosterone on SP-D gene expression, we measured SP-D mRNA levels via real time RT-PCR in prostates from sham-castrated mice and castrated mice. In addition, we used a rat prostatitis model in which Escherichia coli was injected into the prostate in vivo to determine if infection influences SP-D protein levels in the prostate.
Results:
We found that SP-D mRNA and protein are present throughout the mouse male reproductive tract, including in the prostate. We determined that castration increases prostate SP-D mRNA levels (~7 fold) when compared to levels in sham-castrated animals. Finally, we demonstrated that infection in the prostate results in a significant increase in SP-D content 24 and 48 hours post-infection.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that infection and androgens regulate SP-D in the prostate.
