Effects of Prolactin and Testosterone on MT1‐MMP mRNA Expression and Enzymatic Activity of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 in the Rat Prostate

Abstract

Endocrine studies have shown prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) regulate prostate function. Both hormones are involved in the diseases of this gland as hyperplasia, dysplasia, and metastatic cancer. Since it has been reported metalloproteinases (MMPs) are underlying processes of metastasis and these are regulated by PRL and T. By histological studies we have detected PRL and T induce hyperplasia in many areas of the rat prostate within one month of treatment. In this work, we evaluated membrane type‐1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1‐MMP) mRNA and enzymatic activity of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 MMPs at the ventral (PV) and dorsolateral (PDL) prostate of the rat in response to treatments induced with PRL and T for one month. Our preliminary results show not differences of MT1‐MMP mRNA expression in all groups at PV and PDL. Although there is a trend of increased MT1‐MMP mRNA in groups T and PRL+T at PV, probably in response to an increase of androgen receptor. MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 were found. In all groups, inactive MMP‐2 was detected in all conditions and active MMP‐2 in the majority, although there were not differences in all groups. Inactive MMP‐9 was detected in almost all groups and active form was not detected, but there is a trend of increase of enzymatic activity in T group. In conclusion, we detected MT1‐MMP, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 MMPs are involved in hyperplasia and T increases expression and enzymatic activity respectively of MMPs. Acknowledgements: CONACYT fellowship No. 290978 y Cuerpo Académico de Neuroquímica UV‐CA‐304.