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Development of a mouse model for nonbacterial prostatitis
D W Keetch1, P Humphrey, T L Ratliff
1Division of Urologic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63141.
Abstract:
Nonbacterial prostatitis is a common clinical entity which is often difficult to diagnose and treat. Little is known with regard to the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease process. To develop an animal model and characterize the immune parameters of nonbacterial prostatitis, we harvested the prostates from SJL, AJ, Balb/c, C57bl/6 and C57bl/6 lpr mice. These prostates were homogenized and injected into syngeneic mice. Controls were injected with Freund's complete adjuvant only. Mice from each group were sacrificed 30 days after injection, and the prostates were harvested. Prostatic tissue was examined histologically for degree of inflammation. None of the Balb/c mice exhibited prostatic inflammation. The SJL and AJ mice exhibited varying degrees of prostatic inflammation. All of the C57bl/6 mice were found to have lymphocytic infiltration of the stroma and periglandular region. The C57bl/6 lpr mice did not appear to be more susceptible than the parental strain. Adoptive transfer studies demonstrated the prostatic inflammation to be at least in part immune mediated. We conclude that injection of syngenic prostate antigen induces prostatic inflammation similar to clinical nonbacterial prostatitis. Nonbacterial prostatitis may be an autoimmune process.
Insights
Researchers developed an animal model for nonbacterial prostatitis by injecting prostate tissue into mice. This study suggests nonbacterial prostatitis may be an immune-mediated autoimmune condition.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Urology
- Pathology
Background:
- Nonbacterial prostatitis is a prevalent clinical condition with poorly understood etiology and pathogenesis.
- Diagnosis and treatment of nonbacterial prostatitis remain challenging.
- Developing an animal model is crucial for studying the immune parameters of this disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish an animal model for nonbacterial prostatitis.
- To characterize the immune parameters involved in nonbacterial prostatitis.
- To investigate the potential autoimmune nature of nonbacterial prostatitis.
Main Methods:
- Prostates were harvested from various mouse strains (SJL, AJ, Balb/c, C57bl/6, C57bl/6 lpr).
- Homogenized prostate tissue was injected into syngeneic mice; controls received Freund's complete adjuvant.
- Prostatic inflammation was assessed histologically 30 days post-injection; adoptive transfer studies were performed.
Main Results:
- Balb/c mice showed no inflammation; SJL and AJ mice exhibited varying degrees of inflammation.
- C57bl/6 mice displayed lymphocytic infiltration in prostatic stroma and periglandular regions.
- Prostatic inflammation was demonstrated to be at least partially immune-mediated.
Conclusions:
- Injection of syngeneic prostate antigen successfully induces prostatic inflammation resembling nonbacterial prostatitis.
- Nonbacterial prostatitis may represent an autoimmune process.
- This animal model facilitates further research into the pathogenesis and treatment of nonbacterial prostatitis.