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Updated: May 14, 2026
Ultrasonography of the Adult Male Urinary Tract for Urinary Functional Testing
Published on: August 14, 2019
Effect of microbubble-enhanced ultrasound on prostate permeability: a potential therapeutic method for prostate
Yongliang Liu1, Shanhong Yi, Jinlong Zhang
1Department of Urology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. liangfromlyl@163.com
Objective:
To explore the effect of microbubble-enhanced therapeutic ultrasound (MEUS) on prostate permeability and the blood-prostate barrier.
Methods:
Experimental rabbits were assigned to 5 separate groups; the MEUS group, the MEUS 24-hour group, and the 3 control groups. A therapeutic ultrasound device was used to treat the rabbit prostates in vivo in combination with intravenous injection of microbubbles (MBs). Evans blue (EB) and lanthanum (La) nitrate were injected to assess the prostate permeability using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Results:
The MEUS group exhibited a significant increase in EB exudation and EB staining of the glandular parenchyma compared with the control groups. In the MEUS group, LSCM showed that a bright red fluorescence of EB was extensively distributed in the intercellular space of extravascular stroma and the glandular epithelium. In addition, TEM showed that the tight junction between vascular endothelial cells was opened, and the La particles used as tracers were seen in the stroma and glandular epithelium. The alterations in the MEUS group were significantly different from those in the groups exposed to MBs or ultrasound alone. These alterations were also not observed in the MEUS 24-hour group.
Conclusion:
MEUS enhanced the prostate permeability, and it effectively opened the blood-prostate barrier. Hence, MEUS may serve as a potential noninvasive therapy for targeted drug or gene delivery to the prostate. However, the relationship between the acoustic parameters of MEUS and prostate permeability or the bioeffects of MEUS needs to be evaluated in future studies.
Insights
Microbubble-enhanced therapeutic ultrasound (MEUS) significantly increased prostate permeability and opened the blood-prostate barrier in rabbits. This noninvasive technique shows promise for targeted prostate drug and gene delivery.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pharmacology
- Urology
Background:
- The blood-prostate barrier (BPB) limits drug delivery to the prostate.
- Noninvasive methods to enhance prostate permeability are needed for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of microbubble-enhanced therapeutic ultrasound (MEUS) on prostate permeability.
- To evaluate MEUS's ability to open the blood-prostate barrier.
Main Methods:
- Rabbits were treated with MEUS, microbubbles (MBs), or ultrasound alone.
- Prostate permeability was assessed using Evans blue (EB) and lanthanum (La) tracers.
- Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed.
Main Results:
- MEUS significantly increased EB exudation and staining in the prostate parenchyma.
- LSCM revealed widespread EB distribution in the intercellular spaces.
- TEM confirmed opening of endothelial tight junctions and La particle infiltration into the stroma and epithelium.
Conclusions:
- MEUS effectively enhances prostate permeability by opening the blood-prostate barrier.
- MEUS presents a potential noninvasive strategy for targeted prostate drug and gene delivery.
- Further research is needed to optimize MEUS parameters and evaluate bioeffects.
