[In situ hybridization to detect the mRNA for insulin-like growth factor-I and II in the prostate]

In order to well understand the expression of mRNA for insulin-like growth factor I and II in normal and hyperplastic prostate, in situ hybridization were used to detect them in a total of 35 cases of prostate. Both the normal and the hyperplastic prostate expressed the mRNA for IGF-I/II. The mRNA for IGF-I was mainly expressed by the epithelial cells and the IGF-II was mainly expressed by the stromal cells. The hyperplastic tissues expressed higher levels of the mRNA for IGF-I and IGF-II. The results suggested that the IGF might play an important role in the regulation of prostate growth and the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia.