Effect of the alpha-1 adrenoceptor blocker on tissue norepinephrine contents in human benign prostatic hyperplasia

To see the effect of the alpha-adrenergic blocking agent on tissue norepinephrine contents of the prostate, norepinephrine (NE) levels were investigated in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Morphometrical analyses were also performed to detect the differences in tissue composition. Nineteen patients were subdivided into two groups. Patients in Group 1 were given tamsulosin hydrochloride (0.2 mg/day) for at least 4 weeks before transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), while patients in the control group (Group 2) underwent no previous treatment for BPH before TURP. Tissue NE contents were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography on a chip of the prostate obtained by TURP. These two groups were closely similar in age distribution, prostatic size, results of preoperative symptom scoring and relative proportion of smooth muscle component within the evaluated specimen. In the present series, tissue NE contents in these groups were not statistically different (p = 0.64). Chronic and acute administration of the alpha-1 antagonist did not apparently influence the tissue NE level in patients with BPH.