Prostatic hyperplasia in mice occurs as a consequence of subchronic administration of the sympathomimetic phenylephrine. Response to phenylephrine is mediated by the alpha(1A)-adrenoceptor, which predominates in the stroma of the rodent ventral prostate. Conceivably, therefore, phenylephrine could directly modulate prostate stromal growth, and indirectly modulate epithelial growth in a paracrine fashion. We cannot, however, rule out the contribution of other indirect effects such as hypoxia/reperfusion or effects on intermediary metabolism.

Our results suggest that, at least in vitro, neurokinins have modest effects on canine prostate epithelial cell proliferation, stromal differentiation, and contraction.

No abstract