[Effectiveness and significance of prostatic ischemia in rabbit]

To evaluate the effect of prostatic ischemia in rabbit and approach the significance of ischemia in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Male rabbits underwent surgical prostatic ischemia for durations of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks and sham-operated rabbits served as controls. The weight of prostate was examined and a histological examination conducted. Ki67 immunohistochemical stain for the generation of prostatic cells and TUNEL test for the apoptosis of prostatic cells were used.

In sham-operated rabbits, the mean (SD) weight of prostate were 0.831(0.127) g, the mean (SD) positive Ki67 staining prostatic epithelial cells 2.1(0.8) in 100 prostatic epithelial cells and stromal cells 2.6(1.1) in 100, mean (SD) positive TUNEL test prostatic epithelial cells 2.0(1.0) in 100 and stromal cells 2.5(0.7) in 100. In operated rabbits, the generation of prostatic stromal cells increased and the apoptosis of prostatic stromal cells decreased over 1 - 12 weeks. The generation of prostatic epithelial cells increased and the apoptosis of prostatic epithelial cells decreased over 2 - 12 weeks, but in the first week, there were no significantly difference between operated and sham-operated rabbits in the generation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial cells. The weight of prostate in operated animals increased at Weeks 4, 8 and 12, were significantly heavier than sham-operated rabbits, 1 week post-op and 2 weeks post-op rabbits, there were no significantly difference between the latter 3 groups.

Ischemia can induce the gain of prostatic weight by improving the generation and inhibiting the apoptosis of prostatic cells. And the effect of ischemia to prostate is correlated with ischemic time. Ischemia may play an important role in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The first response to ischemia is the change of prostatic stromal cells.