Effects of adjuvant-induced arthritis on the ventral prostate of rats treated with angiotensin AT1 receptor blocker

Abstract

AimsTo analyze the prostatic compartments, extracellular matrix, microvascularization, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and angiotensin II receptors type 1 (AT1) levels, and histopathology of the ventral prostate in a rat model for rheumatoid arthritis, and to evaluate the effect of angiotensin II AT1 receptor blocker (ARB) in the disease. Main methodsFifteen male rats (90 days old) were divided into three groups (n = 5/group): control, adjuvant-induced arthritis without (AIA) or with AT1 receptor blocker (AIA + ARB). Animals were euthanized 60 days after immunization. The ventral prostate was collected, weighed, and processed for histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Key findingsOur results show that AIA increases production of the prostatic epithelium and extracellular matrix, accompanied by a reduction in the number of tissue capillaries. ARB treatment promotes decreased production of extracellular matrix and increased TGF-β and AT1 receptor immunostaining. SignificanceAIA may activate specific mechanisms that modify the prostatic environment; the use of ARB attenuates some altered prostate parameters in a rat model for arthritis.