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Published on: January 16, 2013
Early-onset endocrine disruptor-induced prostatitis in the rat
Prue A Cowin1, Paul Foster, John Pedersen
1Centre for Urological Research, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Environmental Health Perspectives
|July 17, 2008
Summary
Prenatal exposure to the endocrine-disrupting chemical vinclozolin caused prostatitis in male rats. This study implicates environmental factors in the development of nonbacterial prostatitis, a common condition in men.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive toxicology
- Environmental health
- Prostate disease research
Background:
- Androgens are crucial for prostate development, and the fetal prostate is sensitive to hormonal changes and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
- Prostatitis affects 9% of men, with over 90% of cases having an unknown cause.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of in utero exposure to the antiandrogenic EDC vinclozolin on prostate function in male offspring.
- To evaluate these effects during neonatal, prepubertal, and postpubertal developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant rats were administered vinclozolin (100 mg/kg) or vehicle control from gestational day 14 to 19.
- Prostate tissues of male offspring were analyzed at 0, 4, and 8 weeks of age.
Main Results:
- In utero vinclozolin exposure did not alter prostate development or branching but downregulated androgen receptor and FGF-10 expression.
- While prostate histology was normal until puberty, 100% of exposed animals developed prostatitis postpubertally.
- Inflammation involved NF-kappa B activation and upregulation of IL-8 and TGF-beta1, but without premalignant lesions.
Conclusions:
- EDCs are implicated as a causative factor in prostatitis.
- This research addresses a significant knowledge gap regarding the etiology of prostatitis.