Catecholamines and Neuropeptide Y in the Prostate Gland Of the Streptozotocin-treated Diabetic Rat

Abstract

The concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (ADR), dopamine (DOP), serotonin (5-HT), and the distribution and intensity of staining of nerves containing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and neuropeptide Y ( NPY) have been studied in the prostate gland of control and streptozotocin (STZ) -diabetic rats. The weight of the prostate of diabetic animals was uniformly less than that of age-matched controls. The immunohistochemical study of the axons in the prostate showed an increase in the density of TH and NPY axons after 12 weeks of STZ diabetes. It is suggested that this is an indication of the presence of diabetic autonomic neuropathy, and that it may correspond to the retraction and regrowth of sympathetic nerve terminals. We conclude that diabetic autonomic neuropathy can affect the prostate gland, and the presence of increased levels of amines and peptides may be of interest in relation to the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia and the spread of prostatic carcinoma.

Keywords

• Male Reproductive Dysfunction
• Prostate
• Noradrenaline
• NPY