Biosynthesis and localization of inhibin in human prostate

Abstract

Inhibin biosynthesis by human prostatic tissue was investigated in vitro. Serum levels of inhibin as well as tissue concentrations in different cells and zones of the normal and benign hyperplastic prostates were determined. Immunocytochemical localization of inhibin identified the involvement of epithelial but not stromal cells in the synthesis and release of prostatic inhibin into the circulation. The endocrine and paracrine functions of prostatic inhibin remain to be elucidated.

Rat prostatic inhibin: Less than 35 kDa protein(s)

“…Recently, purified inhibin from Sertoli cells from immature rat testes has been shown to have an apparent molecular weight of 30 kDa [23]. Our results may also be considered in accordance with those of Seidah et al [24], Beksac et al [25] and Sathe et al [26] who have reported human prostatic inhibin to be associated with a molecular size of approximately 10 kDa.…”

Generation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to prostate secretory protein

“…The inhibin bioassay failed to show that the PSP antigen had DISCUSSION PSP is a major component of normal seminal plasma (Lee et al, 1986;Lilja and Abrahamsson, 1988;Beksac et al, 1984) and is produced specifically, at least in reproductive tissues, by prostate epithelial cells (Dub6 et al., 19876;Doctor et al, 1986;Beksac et al, 1984;Sathe et al, 1987). PSP has also been detected in prostate tissues as well as in the serum and urine of prostate cancer patients (Hara and Kimura, 1989;Okabe and Eto, 1983;Teni et al, 1988;Tremblay et al, 1987;Dub6 et al, 1987a), suggesting that this prostate secretory component may be a useful marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer.…”

Immunocytochemical localisation of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in normal, benign and malignant human prostates

“…The epithelial cells in poorly differentiated carcinomas also exhibited marked variation in staining but all specimens examined were positive for FSH (Figure 9). Human prostatic endocrine-paracrine cells (amine precusor uptake and decarboxylation, APUD, cells) were first des- cribed by Pretl in 1944 and further studied by Feyrter in 1951. The importance of the prostate gland as an endocrine organ is supported by the recent identification of several peptides in this gland, including endorphins (Tsong et al 1982), vasopressin and oxytocin (Adashi & Hsueh, 1981), relaxin (Cameron et al, 1982), somatostatin (Di Sant Agnese & de Mesy-Jensen, 1984), inhibin (Sathe et al, 1987;Vanage et al, 1989) and insulin (Stahler et al, 1988). Contrary to earlier concepts, it now appears that regulatory peptides are widely distributed and are involved in various functions that are beyond those classically recognised for these peptides.…”

“…The prostate is now well established as a gland with endocrine activity by virtue of the presence in it of a number of regulatory peptides, such as endorphins (Tsong et al, 1982), vasopressin and oxytocin (Adashi & Hsueh, 1981), relaxin (Cameron et al, 1982), somatostatin (Di Sant Agnese & de Mesy-Jensen, 1984) and inhibin (Sathe et al, 1987;Vanage et al, 1989). The synthesis of prostatic inhibin, like that of gonadal inhibin, is under the control of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (Vanage et al, 1989).…”