International Neurourology Journal (Dec 2014)

Influence of on Alpha-Adrenergic Receptor of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

  • Su Kang Kim,
  • Joo-Ho Chung,
  • Byung-Cheol Lee,
  • Sang Won Lee,
  • Kang Hyo Lee,
  • Young Ock Kim

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5213/inj.2014.18.4.179
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 4
pp. 179 – 186

Abstract

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Purpose Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common prostate problem in older men. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer ( P. ginseng) on a rat model of testosterone-induced BPH. Methods The rats were divided into 3 groups (each group, n=10): control, testosterone-induced BPH (20 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection), and P. ginseng (200 mg/kg, orally) groups. After 4 weeks, all animals were sacrificed to examine the blood biochemical profiles, prostate volume, weight, histopathological changes, alpha-1D adrenergic receptor (Adra1d) mRNA expression, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein expression. Results The group treated with P. ginseng showed significantly lesser prostate size and weight than the testosterone-induced BPH group. In addition, P. ginseng decreased the mRNA expression of Adra1d as well as the expression of EGFR and BCL2 in prostate tissue. Conclusions These results suggest that P. ginseng may inhibit the alpha-1-adrenergic receptor to suppress the development of BPH.

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