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Prostate androgen receptor: immunohistological localization and mRNA characterization
Journal of Steroid Biochemistry
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Androgen receptors (ARs) are primarily located in the nuclei of human prostate epithelial cells. AR messenger RNA (mRNA) is abundant in androgen-sensitive tissues like the prostate.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The androgen receptor (AR) plays a crucial role in prostate physiology and disease.
- Understanding the localization and expression of AR is vital for prostate cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular localization of the androgen receptor (AR) in human prostate tissue using immunohistochemistry.
- To determine the size and abundance of AR messenger RNA (mRNA) in androgen-sensitive organs.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry with four specific monoclonal antibodies to detect AR protein.
- Northern blot hybridization to analyze AR mRNA size and expression levels.
Main Results:
- Immunoreactive ARs were predominantly found in the nuclei of prostate epithelial cells.
- AR mRNA was identified as approximately 9 kilobases (kb) in size.
- AR mRNA was relatively abundant in androgen-sensitive organs, including the ventral prostate, dorsolateral prostate, and seminal vesicle.
Conclusions:
- The androgen receptor (AR) is mainly a nuclear protein in human prostate epithelial cells.
- AR mRNA is expressed at significant levels in key androgen-sensitive tissues of the male reproductive system.