Prostate enlargement and altered urinary function are part of the aging process

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Gerontology
• Comparative Medicine

Background:

• Prostate disease incidence, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), increases significantly with age.
• Rodent models are crucial for studying prostate diseases, but often do not account for the effect of aging.
• Age-related changes in the lower urinary tract (LUT) are common and can lead to lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related changes in the lower urinary tract of mice.
• To characterize functional and histological differences in the LUT between young and aged mice.
• To explore the relationship between serum steroid hormone levels and age-related LUTD.

Main Methods:

• Functional testing and imaging technologies were used to identify LUTD in aged mice.
• Histological analysis compared the prostates of young (2-month-old) and aged (24-month-old) mice, examining proliferation, stromal remodeling, and collagen deposition.
• Serum steroid hormone levels were measured in both age groups.

Main Results:

• Aged mice exhibited lower urinary tract changes consistent with LUTD, similar to BPH models.
• Histological examination revealed significant differences in prostate tissue between young and aged mice.
• Serum steroid hormone levels differed between age groups, suggesting a role in age-related LUTD.

Conclusions:

• Prostate function changes with age, leading to lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD).
• Therapeutic strategies targeting endocrine factors, smooth muscle function, prostate growth, and fibrosis may restore normal urinary function.
• This study provides insights into age-related prostate changes and potential treatment avenues.