[Prostatic blood flow as prominent targets on benign prostatic hyperplasia]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Cardiovascular Science
• Pathology

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as benign prostatic enlargement (BPE), is a common condition associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
• The exact causes of BPH/BPE are multifactorial, but impaired blood supply to the lower urinary tract is increasingly implicated.
• Clinical evidence links BPH/BPE development to atherosclerotic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of prostatic blood flow in the development of BPH/BPE.
• To evaluate the therapeutic potential of improving prostatic blood flow for BPH/LUTS.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model, which exhibits genetic hypertension, decreased prostatic blood flow, and hyperplastic abnormalities.
• Administered chronic treatment with vasodilative drugs: nicorandil (an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener) and silodosin (an alpha1 adrenoceptor antagonist).
• Assessed changes in prostatic blood flow, growth factors, and morphological abnormalities in the ventral prostate of treated SHRs.

Main Results:

• Chronic treatment with nicorandil and silodosin significantly increased blood flow in the ventral prostate of SHRs.
• These vasodilative treatments suppressed abnormal growth factors and reversed hyperplastic morphological abnormalities.
• The observed improvements in prostatic blood flow correlated with reduced pathological changes.

Conclusions:

• Prostatic blood flow impairment is a significant factor in the pathogenesis of BPH/BPE.
• Improving prostatic blood flow through vasodilative therapy holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for managing BPH/LUTS.
• Targeting prostatic blood flow represents a novel therapeutic avenue for BPH and associated lower urinary tract symptoms.