Synergistic Action of Steroids and Spermatocele Fluid on in Vitro Proliferation of Prostate Stroma

Abstract

These in vitro observations indicate that testis epididymal secretions contain androgen/STEP synergistic and androgen independent STEP factors promoting prostate stromal growth. These factors are not heparin binding. These observations are consistent with the concept that, in addition to the production of steroids, the testis produces non-androgenic factors that act in concert with, as well as independently of, androgen to stimulate prostatic growth.

Low-Calcium Serum-Free Defined Medium Selects for Growth of Normal Prostatic Epithelial Stem Cells

“…5B). The latter lack of response is consistent with the previous demonstration that the growth of normal human prostate stromal cells was not stimulated by androgens (35).…”

Gene expression profiles of lysophosphatidic acid‐related molecules in the prostate: Relevance to prostate cancer and benign hyperplasia

“…Paradoxically however, diseases of the prostate such as prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) occur in an androgen diminished environment [1] raising the possibility that androgens alone may not be sufficient, though necessary, in the onset of prostate diseases. Indeed, accumulating evidence supports the existence of non-androgenic factor(s) that appear to promote growth of the androgen stimulated prostate [2][3][4][5].…”

Experimental Cryptorchidism Inhibited Growth of the Rat Ventral Prostate

“…In summary, the results of the present study have allowed us to support the postulate that although androgen is the major mitogenic factor to prostatic growth, other nonandrogenic substances derived from the testis may be important for additional prostatic growth. The present observations on the cryptorchid animal model taken together with results of studies in human (Sutkowski et al, 1993;Grayhack et al, 1998), rat (Dalton et al, 1990;Darras et al, 1992), and dog (Berry et al, 1984(Berry et al, , 1986Grayhack et al, 1985) models have expanded our understanding of and ability to study the testicular nonandrogenic prostatestimulating factor(s). Whether or not the active principles in the rat testis are the same in humans requires further study.…”

“…Several experimental observations (Grayhack et al, 1985;Dalton et al, 1990;Darras et al, 1992) however have led to the hypothesis that the testis may secrete a nonsteroidal factor that promotes prostate growth. In accordance with this postulate, human spermatocele fluid, a rete testis fluid derivative, was found to contain nonandrogenic substances that caused proliferation of both prostatic epithelial and stromal cells in culture (Sutkowski et al, 1993;Grayhack et al, 1998). Thus, alterations in the nonandrogenic secretory function of the testis and/or epididymis may have an important role in prostate growth.…”