Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of castration on cell death rate of the adult rat prostates and to evaluate the benefic action of alpha tocopherol supplementation to avoid apoptosis post-orchiectomy. Thirty male Wistar rats weighing 250-300g were divided into three groups: group I - they were subjected to bilateral orchiectomy and sacrificed eight weeks after the procedure; group II - subjected to bilateral orchiectomy and alpha-tocopherol supplementation for four weeks preceding the procedure; and group III - subjected to bilateral orchiectomy and alpha-tocopherol supplementation for four weeks preceding the procedure and for eight weeks afterwards. At the end of the experiment, the prostatectomy was performed in all rats. The presence of oxidative stress was determined by assaying the blood level of 8-isoprostane and the occurrence of apoptosis was evaluated by identification of active caspase-3 through immunohistochemical analysis. The statistic analysis of active caspase-3 showed that in the long-term castrated group the detection was higher than in groups were the alpha-tocopherol was supplemented (p=0.007). Analysis of 8-isoprostane levels showed higher concentrations of reactive oxygen species in group I compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Groups II and III presented active caspase-3 lower than in group I (p < 0.05). Our exploratory analyses demonstrate a method to study the aging process and its influence on oxidative stress of prostatic tissue and cells death rate. Based on our results we can suggest that alpha tocopherol supplementation can decrease the apoptotic process as well as the oxidative stress levels induced by androgen deprivation of the prostate gland.
Highlights
Considering the exposed above, we aimed to study the occurrence of apoptosis in prostatic stroma in the presence of low levels of testosterone, yet assessing the beneficial action of alpha-tocopherol to prevent the state of oxidative stress induced by orchiectomy
Testosterone measurements The serum testosterone concentrations immediately before sacrifice of the animals of the orchiectomized groups with or without alpha-tocopherol replacement were lower than 20 pg/mL, the lower limit of sensitivity of the method applied
In the mid-1950s, the theory of free radicals to explain the aging process was proposed, speculating that endogenous oxygen radicals were produced in cells and resulted in a pattern of cumulative damage
Summary
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of castration on cell death rate of the adult rat prostates and to evaluate the benefic action of alpha tocopherol supplementation to avoid apoptosis post-orchiectomy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act probably on nucleic acids, causing cellular damage by reaction with membrane lipids and proteins, and modulate the expression of some genes related to cellular differentiation and proliferation Due to these facts, they may trigger the signaling routes that lead to cell apoptosis [7]. Recent experimental study showed the beneficial action of vitamin E in reducing the activation of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis and cell death rate induced by moderate oxidative stress [9]. It can react directly with a variety of oxi-radicals such as superoxide, the hydroxyl and with the singlet oxygen [10]. Considering the exposed above, we aimed to study the occurrence of apoptosis in prostatic stroma in the presence of low levels of testosterone, yet assessing the beneficial action of alpha-tocopherol to prevent the state of oxidative stress induced by orchiectomy
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