金黄地鼠前列腺分泌蛋白对输卵管液糖蛋白的影响

目的：在整体水平探讨前列腺分泌蛋白对金黄地鼠输卵管液中糖蛋白的影响。方法：金黄地鼠雄鼠依据手术方式的不同分为3组，分别为假手术组（SH）、附属性腺全去组（TX）和腹前列腺组（VP）（仅存前列腺）。收集与各手术组交配后不同时间点（交配后0.5、2、4、6h）的输卵管液（每一时间点及每一组，n=3），输卵管液蛋白经SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳，考马斯亮蓝或阿仙蓝染色分析，应用蛋白电泳印迹后与系列某一种特异性糖基专一性结合凝集素反应，分析糖蛋白的变化。结果：不同组雄鼠交配及不同时间点收集输卵管液蛋白电泳谱类似，约15条主要条带。凝集素结合谱示，麦胚凝集素（WGA）结合的相对分子质量（Mr）为32000、35500、47000、52000糖蛋白见于6hVP组输卵管液，而6h TX组可见Mr为81000、128000条带；与豌豆凝集素（PSA）结合Mr为37500、32000糖蛋白仅见于6h VP组，而6h TX组缺乏；仅6hVP组可见与双花扁豆凝集素（DBA）结合Mr为52000、47000糖蛋白，而6h TX组缺乏。而0.5、2、4h时间点收集的输卵管液各凝集素结合谱相似。结论：前列腺分泌蛋白可影响修饰交配6h后的输卵管液中含乙酰氨基葡萄糖、N-乙酰半乳糖胺／半乳糖和甘露糖糖链的糖蛋白。这些糖蛋白可能在胚胎的发育过程中起作用。     

金黄地鼠腹侧前列腺来源蛋白结合精子表面的实验研究

目的:探讨前列腺分泌蛋白是否可结合于精子表面。方法:以金黄地鼠作为研究对象,应用间接免疫荧光和亲和素标记的蛋白转印方法检测前列腺分泌蛋白是否可结合于精子。制备的抗前列腺粗提取物多克隆抗体,间接免疫荧光技术检测体外与前列腺分泌物孵育的附睾精子,以及体内分别与含前列腺及去除前列腺雄鼠交配后收集的子宫腔内和输卵管腔内精子的前列腺成分抗原。前列腺提取物经电泳分离转膜后和生物素标记附睾精子膜蛋白作用,测定在体外前列腺分泌蛋白能否与附睾精子膜结合。实验分为对照组、附属性腺全去组、腹侧前列腺组、去除腹侧前列腺组。结果:前列腺抗原成分的免疫反应局限在精子体中部表面,而精子头、颈部未见阳性反应。在体外(80±5)%附睾精子与前列腺分泌蛋白结合,在体内与对照组雄鼠交配后收集的子宫腔内精子与前列腺分泌蛋白结合精子阳性率为(30.0±4.6)%,与去除腹侧前列腺组(3.6±1.4)%比较差异有显著性(P<0.01),在体内与对照组雄鼠交配后收集的输卵管腔内精子与前列腺分泌蛋白结合精子阳性率为(16.0±3.6)%,与去除腹侧前列腺组精子(3.2±1.4)%比较差异有显著性(P<0.01)。前列腺分泌蛋白的电泳印记膜与生物素标记附睾精子膜蛋白孵育后显色分析结果可见5条阳性反应带。结论:金黄地鼠的前列腺分泌蛋白可结合于精子体中部表面,前列腺分泌蛋白中至少有5个组分可与精子膜蛋白结合。     

半乳糖凝集素3抑制剂对大鼠椎间盘软骨终板细胞基质金属蛋白酶-3、趋化因子（C-C基元）配体3及聚蛋白多糖表达的影响

目的 探讨半乳糖凝集素3对大鼠椎间盘软骨终板细胞基质金属蛋白酶-3(MMP-3)、趋化因子(C-C基元)配体3(CCL3)、聚蛋白多糖表达的影响.方法 将P2代大鼠软骨终板细胞分为2组,一组加入含25μmol/L GB1107半乳糖凝集素3抑制剂(抑制剂组),另一组加入等体积空白溶剂(对照组),采用MTT法检测2组12 h、24 h及48 h细胞的增殖情况;于加入溶剂后24 h收集2组细胞,采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测细胞中MMP-3、CCL3及聚蛋白多糖的mRNA表达水平,采用蛋白质印迹法检测细胞中MMP-3、CCL3及聚蛋白多糖的蛋白表达水平.结果 抑制剂组大鼠软骨终板细胞的细胞增殖活性加入抑制剂后12 h开始随时间延长不断降低,加入抑制剂后12 h、24 h、48 h各时间点的细胞增殖活性均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).抑制剂组大鼠软骨终板细胞中MMP-3、CCL3及聚蛋白多糖的mRNA和蛋白表达水平均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 抑制半乳糖凝集素3可降低大鼠终板细胞中MMP-3、CCL3及聚蛋白多糖的表达,提示半乳糖凝集素3可能通过调节细胞外基质的降解、炎性细胞浸润和合成代谢共同影响椎间盘退行性变进程.     

半乳糖凝集素-1预处理对机械通气相关性肺损伤小鼠的影响

目的 探讨半乳糖凝集素-1(Galectin-1)预处理对机械通气相关性肺损伤(VILI)小鼠的影响。方法 选择清洁级健康雄性C57BL/6小鼠30只,6～8周龄,体重22～30 g。采用随机数字表法将小鼠分为三组：对照组(C组)、VILI组(V组)和Galectin-1+VILI组(G组),每组10只。C组气管插管后保持自主呼吸4 h, V组和G组气管插管后机械通气4 h。气管插管前1 h C组和V组腹腔注射生理盐水0.75 ml, G组腹腔注射Galectin-1 3μg。于气管插管前即刻、自主呼吸或机械通气结束时采集动脉血检测PaO₂,后处死小鼠,收集肺泡支气管灌洗液(BALF),采用ELISA法检测BALF中IL-1β和IL-18浓度。取肺组织测定湿/干重比(W/D),采用qRT-PCR法检测肺组织GSDMD、caspase-1和caspase-11 mRNA表达量,Western blot法检测肺组织GSDMD、caspase-1和caspase-11蛋白含量,HE染色法观察病理改变并行肺损伤评分。结果 与C组比较,V组和G组机械通气结束时PaO     

前列腺精囊液精子用于卵胞浆内单精子注射妊娠一例

患者 3 5岁 ,女性 ,结婚 8年未育。经子宫输卵管造影 ( HSG)检查诊断为双侧输卵管阻塞 ,男性配偶检查未发现不育因素。女方以原发不育、输卵管阻塞行体外受精 -胚胎移植 ( IVF-ET)助孕术。采用短周期降调节控制性促超排卵方案 ,优势卵泡直径达 1 8mm时肌注人绒毛膜促性腺激素 ( h CG) 1 0 0 0 0 U,3 6 h后阴道 B超引导下穿刺取出卵子 6个。采卵后男方出现勃起功能障碍 ,先后经口服西地那非 (伟哥 ) 50mg及阴茎海绵体注射复合性血管活性药 (奥杰特 )仍无法勃起完成排精 ,于取卵后 6 h采用前列腺按摩获取前列腺精囊液 0 .8ml,镜检发现活…     

CAPD患者腹膜透析置换液及肝硬化患者腹水的蛋白质组的研究

目的：分析持续性非卧床腹膜透析（CAPD）患者24h时腹膜透析置换液及肝硬化患者腹水的蛋白质组,找出差异蛋白。方法：分别收集4位CAPD患者24h腹膜透析置换液及肝硬化患者1000～1500ml腹水进行超滤浓缩后行2-D胶双向电泳检测及图像、质谱分析。结果：实验成功得到了两组病人的蛋白电泳图,电泳图中存在明显差异蛋白点,选取20个点行质谱分析后得到15个点的肽指纹图,在蛋白质组数据库中将获得混合物肽片段质量数据输入数据库中进行检索。结果表明12、13、14点为视黄醇结合蛋白,17点为糖基化蛋白HC。结论：腹膜透析置换液和腹水之间确实存在蛋白质组的差异,经质谱分析证实视黄醇结合蛋白是其中之一,即腹膜透析置换液中存在视黄醇结合蛋白。     

免疫法制作大鼠非细菌性前列腺炎模型的量效关系研究

目的:探讨用不同剂量前列腺蛋白提纯液辅以弗氏完全佐剂,建立慢性非细菌性前列腺炎动物模型并探讨模型成功与剂量的关系。方法:将30只Wistar大鼠随机分为A～E共5组,每组6只,其中A组为对照组,B～E组为实验组,在第0、30天,多点皮内注射浓度为20(B组)、40(C组)、60(D组)、80 mg/ml(E组)的前列腺蛋白提纯液及弗氏完全佐剂1∶1混悬液1.0 ml,同时腹腔注射百白破疫苗0.5 ml,第45天观察大鼠前列腺组织的大体及病理形态学。结果:各实验组表现出不同程度的慢性炎症,有不同程度的淋巴细胞浸润和间质增生,且存在量效关系。其中C、D组动物前列腺病变范围、淋巴浸润程度、间质增生程度与A组比较,差异均有显著性(P均<0.05),E组上述变化更明显。结论:30 d内两次多点皮内注射浓度40～60 mg/ml的大鼠前列腺蛋白提纯液与弗氏完全佐剂的1∶1混悬液1.0 ml,同时腹腔注射百白破疫苗0.5 ml,即可成功地建立大鼠慢性非细菌性前列腺炎模型。     

经会阴模板引导前列腺穿刺对短期内经尿道前列腺等离子剜除术的影响

目的:探讨经会阴模板引导前列腺投影穿刺活检术(TTPMB)对短期内行经尿道前列腺等离子剜除术(PKEP)的影响。方法:收集2017年5月—2019年11月期间我院连续71例行PKEP的患者临床资料。28例术前7~10 d有TTPMB史的患者列入TTPMB组;43例术前无前列腺活检术(NPB)史的患者列入NPB组。围手术期资料包括:年龄、前列腺特异抗原(PSA)、前列腺体积、最大尿流率(Q_(max))、国际前列腺症状评分(IPSS)、生活质量评分(QOL)、残余尿量(PVR)、膀胱出口梗阻指数(BOOI)、手术时间、血红蛋白下降程度、术后冲洗时间、术后冲洗液用量、尿管留置时间、输血量、术后排尿和尿失禁情况。随访1年收集资料包括Q_(max)、IPSS、QOL。结果:两组均顺利完成手术,无ClavienⅡ级以上并发症。NPB组对比TTPMB组的手术时间、血红蛋白下降程度、术后冲洗时间、术后冲洗液用量、尿管留置时间结果为:(85.6±15.09) min vs.(89.32±11.86) min、(4.14±1.04) g/L vs.(3.72±1.03) g/L、(15.81±4.04) h vs.(15.39±3.75) h、(16.53±5.24) L vs.(15.29±4.09) L、(59.49±11.46) h vs.(60.75±11.33) h,以上比较均差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。前列腺体积80 mL分层分析:NPB组vs.TTPMB组手术时间为(81.32±12.35) min vs.(88.47±11.91) min(P0.05)。术后无真性尿失禁,6例因不同原因失访,共有65例完成1年的随访,术后3、6、12个月均未观察到两组间Q_(max)、IPSS、QOL的差异有统计学意义。结论:TTPMB后短期内可以行PKEP,由此减少住院次数符合新型冠状病毒肺炎防疫要求,当前列腺体积80 mL时手术时间略有延长。     

慢性前列腺炎患者前列腺液、尿液电解质测定及其相关性研究

目的　检测慢性前列腺炎患者及正常对照组前列腺液、尿液中K 、Na 、Cl-、Ca2 等电解质浓度 ,探讨各组间几种电解质的相关性。　方法　对 79例前列腺炎患者、31例正常对照组的前列腺液、尿液的K 、Na 、Cl-、Ca2 等浓度进行测定并分组分析。　结果　前列腺炎患者组与正常对照组前列腺液中K 、Na 、Ca2 浓度差异无显著性意义 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,Cl-浓度差异有显著性意义 (P =0 .0 0 1) ,患者组Cl-(6 8.6 3± 37.71)mmol/L浓度显著高于对照组 (4 5 .17± 19.79)mmol/L。治疗有效组中前列腺液K 浓度治疗前后分别为 (4 0 .6 6± 17.10 )mmol/L、(33.4 2± 17.2 7)mmol/L ;治疗无效组中前列腺液K 浓度治疗前后分别为 (37.5 7± 16 .93)mmol/L、(5 0 .6 6± 18.77)mmol/L。疼痛组与非疼痛组前列腺液K 浓度分别为 (36 .0 2± 12 .36 )mmol/L、(4 8.90± 16 .93)mmol/L。每组前列腺液K 浓度与前列腺液Ca2 浓度呈正相关以及尿液Na 浓度与尿液Cl-浓度呈正相关 (P均 <0 .0 5 )。　结论　前列腺炎患者治疗前后以及疼痛组与非疼痛组间 ,前列腺液K 浓度变化明显 ;前列腺液K 、Ca2 浓度之间和尿液Na 、Cl-浓度之间关系密切 ,均呈正相关。     

自身免疫法制作大鼠慢性非细菌性前列腺炎模型的周期

目的 探讨应用前列腺组织蛋白提纯液(PTHS)辅以弗氏完全佐剂(FCA)和百白破疫苗(PDT),成功建立慢性非细菌性前列腺炎(CNP)大鼠模型所需的时间周期.方法 取4个月龄雄性SD大鼠10只,麻醉处死后在无菌条件下剖腹取前列腺组织,高速离心制作PTHS,用微量紫外分光光度计测定前列腺组织蛋白含量,再以0.1 mol/LpH7.4的PBS缓冲液调节蛋白浓度至20 mg/ml.再将PTHS与FCA等体积混合成混悬液.另取2个月龄SD大鼠48只,随机分为6组,每组8只.其中5组为实验组(1周组、2周组、4周组、6周组、8周组),每只大鼠皮内多点注射PTHS与FCA的混悬液1.0ml,同时腹腔注射PDT 0.5ml,分别于1、2、4、6、8周处死后取前列腺组织观察大体形态和光镜病理特征.另1组为对照组,同法注射等量生理盐水,并于第8周处死后观察前列腺特征.结果 对照组大鼠前列腺大体形态正常,光镜下未见炎症表现;1周组大鼠前列腺也无明显炎症表现;2周组大鼠前列腺组织轻度充血水肿,腺体周围可见散在的淋巴细胞浸润;4周组大鼠前列腺结构出现轻中度破坏,间质、腺体内和腺体周围均出现较多的淋巴细胞浸润;6周组大鼠前列腺结构破坏严重,间质、腺体内和腺体周围有弥漫的淋巴样组织增生和淋巴、单核细胞等慢性炎细胞浸润,提示建模成功;8周组大鼠炎症情况与6周组大鼠类似.结论 应用同源大鼠的PTHS辅以双重免疫佐剂(FCA和PDT)经过6周的时间可以成功建立CNP大鼠模型.     

Effects of male accessory sex glands on sperm transport, fertilization and embryonic loss in golden hamsters

This study was performed to determine the cause of reduced fertility after selective or complete ablation of the male accessory sex glands (ASG) in the golden hamster. The ASG (ampullary gland, coagulating gland, dorsal prostate, ventral prostate and seminal vesicle) were removed bilaterally. The following results were observed in matings involving such surgically-treated males. (1) Fertilization rate was not changed. (2) Total removal of all ASG resulted in significantly fewer sperm reaching the oviduct 1.5 h after mating and a higher rate of embryonic death at day 9 of pregnancy in the mated females. (3) Absence of the ampullary gland and ventral prostate led to higher rates of embryonic death by day 9 of pregnancy. (4) Compared with the controls, fewer oviductal sperm were found in post-ovulatory matings involving males in which the seminal vesicles had been removed. (5) No relationship could be established between the size (weight) of sperm plugs and the number of sperm found in the uterus.     

Effects of male accessory sex glands on sperm decondensation and oocyte activation during in vivo fertilization in golden hamsters

Removal of paternal male accessory sex glands (ASG) could cause a delay in DNA synthesis in hamster zygotes fertilized in vivo. In view of the fact that this process is closely related to pronuclear development which, in part, depends on sperm nuclear decondensation and oocyte activation during fertilization, we carried out a series of experiments were undertaken to determine whether ASG also has an effect on these early events. (1) Oocytes were collected from females mated with SH (sham-operated control), AGX (bilateral excision of ampullary glands), VPX (bilateral excision of ventral prostates) or TX (excision of all ASG) males (n = 8 per group) at 4, 5 and 6 h post coitus. (2) Epididymal spermatozoa were incubated with total ventral prostate (VP) secretion to study its effect on dithiothreitol-induced sperm decondensation. (3) Histone H1 kinase activity in oocytes collected as described in (1) was determined. (4) Exocytosed cortical granules on oocytes were labelled with FITC-LCA and quantified by a Metamorph Imaging System. Results showed that sperm decondensation and resumption of meiosis in oocytes in VPX and TX groups were significantly slower compared with SH. VP secretion augmented sperm decondensation in vitro. At 4 h post coitus, the relative activity of histone H1 kinase in the TX and VPX groups was significantly higher than that in the SH group (p < 0.01). Cortical granule exocytosis in the AGX group was consistently weaker at all time points studied and was significantly lower than that of the control at 4 h post coitus (p < 0.05), while the percentage of polyspermic fertilization in the AGX group was significantly higher compared with that in the SH group (p < 0.05). Taken together, these results show that the lack of exposure of spermatozoa to secretions of the ASG does not jeopardize their ability to penetrate ova, although other aspects of their function in the early stages of gamete interaction and subsequent initiation of embryonic development are affected.     

Identification of maturation-related wheat-germ lectin-binding proteins in the culture of human corpus epididymal epithelial cells

This study is designed to investigate the synthesis of maturation-related wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) binding glycoproteins in the human corpus epididymal epithelial cells by in vitro culture. Epithelial cells were isolated from the corpus of human epididymides and cultured with RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum in type IV collagen-coated dishes at 37 degrees C. The epithelial nature, presence of fibroblasts, WGA-binding sites, and existence of GP-83 were determined by an indirect immunocytochemical and histochemical staining technique. Proteins in the cultured cells were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. After culturing for 10 days, the cells were shown to be positive with epithelial cell-specific keratins but devoid of fibroblasts. WGA-binding granules and positive binding sites of GP-83 were also detected in the cytoplasm. Immunoblots of cell extracts probed with the anti-GP-83 antibody from seminal fluid revealed the sperm maturation-related glycoprotein GP-83. The results indicate that WGA-binding proteins may be synthesized by the corpus epididymal epithelial cells of human and GP-83 may play an important role in sperm maturation. This culture model may be suitable for the investigation on the biosynthesis and physiology of human epididymal principal cells in vitro.     

Effects of male accessory sex glands on fertilization, polyspermy and morphometry of early embryos in the golden hamster

Preimplantation embryos sired by hamsters without accessory sex glands (ASG) were found to have a higher mortality rate and a slower cleavage rate than those sired by sham-operated males at 72 h post coitum (P.c.). A time-course study of fertilization in vivo was conducted to determine whether this effect was due to delayed fertilization. Ultrastructural morphometry of 48 h embryos was also undertaken to establish the earliest manifestation of developmental anomalies. Compared to sham-operated controls (SH), ablation of all the ASG (TX), or just the ventral prostate (VPX) or ampullary gland (AGX) had no effect on the timing of sperm penetration, extrusion of the second polar body and pronuclear formation. Females mated with AGX males tended to have more polyspermic embryos (9.7%; p < 0.05). The volumes, volume fractions ( V v) of the blastomere nuclei, mitochondria and yolk material of the four-cell embryos sired by these same groups of males were assessed using point counting techniques. No difference in the V_v of yolk and mitochondria could be observed between groups. However, the SH group did have a significantly larger proportion of the cell occupied by the nucleus ( p < 0.05), and the TX group had a higher proportion of the nucleus occupied by nucleoli when compared with the SH group (p <0.01). Smaller nuclei and larger nucleoli in the TX group was interpreted as an early manifestation of a slower division rate of the blastomeres.     

Contents of fructose, citric acid, acid phosphatase, proteins and electrolytes in secretions of the accessory sex glands of the male golden hamster

Secretions were collected from the ampullary gland, dorsolateral prostate, ventral prostate, coagulating glands and seminal vesicles of male golden hamsters aged 15–20 weeks. The concentrations of total protein, citric acid, fructose, acid phosphatase, chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc were determined. The ampullary gland secreted predominantly citric acid, sodium and acid phosphatase. Zinc was secreted only by the prostatic complex, with the largest quantity coming from the coagulating gland. The highest concentrations of potassium, calcium and magnesium were found in secretions of the ventral prostate. The coagulating gland and dorsolateral prostate were the principal contributors to total protein. The hamster appears to be more related to the mouse than to the rat in terms of the secretory functions of its accessory sex glands.     

Fertility, fecundity, sex ratio and the accessory sex glands in male golden hamsters

The ventral prostates, dorsolateral prostates, coagulating glands (anterior prostates), ampullary glands and/or seminal vesicles of male golden hamsters were excised bilaterally. The effects of these treatments on fertility, fecundity and sex ratio of offspring were studied. Total removal of the glands or ablation of the ventral prostates alone reduced fertility. The lack of secretions from the coagulating glands and seminal vesicles in the seminal fluid all favoured a higher proportion of male pups born in a litter. Absence of all or any of these glands did not appear to affect litter size.     

Fast Facts: Prostate Cancer

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the changes in androgen levels in the prostate after castration, as androgens are critical in the progression of prostate cancer after castration, but the time at which the androgen remaining in the prostatic cancer tissue after castration exerts its effects is poorly understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ventral prostate (VP) in adult male spontaneously hypertensive rats was excised at 2, 4 and 8 h, 1, 2, 4 and 7 days, and 2, 4 and 8 weeks after castration. The dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione (4‐dione) levels in the VP were measured simultaneously using gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Within 2 days of castration, the DHT and testosterone levels in the VP decreased sharply, while there were no significant changes in the DHEA or 4‐dione levels. From 2 days to 2 weeks after castration (2–7 days for 4‐dione), there was a sharp peak in tissue androgen levels in the VP (P < 0.05 for all androgens); during the subsequent 6 weeks after castration, all of the tissue DHT, testosterone, DHEA and 4‐dione levels gradually increased with time.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show the changes which occur in androgen levels in rat VP after castration and support the concept that the adrenal glands compensate for the loss of testicular androgen.     

19-去甲睾酮对性腺发育不良小鼠附性腺生长的影响

目的 :观察合成同化甾体激素 19 去甲睾酮 (NT)对性腺发育不良 (hpg)小鼠的前列腺、精囊腺 (SV)、附睾生长发育的影响 ,为用药的安全性提供实验依据。　方法 :NT硅胶囊皮下埋植 5周缓释给药 ,设给药hpg小鼠实验组 (n =7)、不给药hpg小鼠对照组 (n =7)和性腺发育正常小鼠对照组 (n =10 )。给药结束后测定前列腺腹侧叶(VP)、SV和附睾的重量及VP腺管末梢数目。　结果 :与hpg小鼠对照组相比 ,hpg小鼠给药组各附性腺的重量均显著增加 (P <0 .0 0 5 ) ,VP腺管分支形态发育趋于正常 ;hpg小鼠给药组SV的重量与正常小鼠相同 ,但VP、附睾的重量及VP腺管末梢数目仍显著低于正常性腺小鼠对照组 (P <0 .0 0 5 )。　结论 :NT能明显刺激hpg小鼠附性腺的生长发育     

Androgen-insensitive prostate cancer cells transiently respond to castration treatment when growing in an androgen-dependent prostate environment

BACKGROUND: Castration-induced involution of the normal prostate is caused by primary effects in the prostate stroma and vasculature, but if this is the case also in tumors is unknown. METHODS: Androgen-independent AT-1 prostate tumor cells were therefore injected into the ventral prostate (VP) in Copenhagen rats. Seven days later when the growing tumor was surrounded by normal VP tissue the rats were castrated and the effect examined 3 and 7 days later. RESULTS: Castration reduced vascular density in the surrounding VP tissue and this was accompanied by tumor cell hypoxia, apoptosis, and temporarily retarded tumor growth. Castration-induced VP tissue regression occurred more rapidly in the contra-lateral than in the tumor-bearing lobe. CONCLUSIONS: Androgen-independent tumor cell respond to castration when growing in an androgen-dependent environment. The presence of a tumor influences the castration response in the surrounding normal tissue. The microenvironment determines how prostate epithelial cells respond to castration.