Estrogen Receptor in Human Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

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Abstract
Estrogens as a major etiological factor in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia in man. The presence of estrogen receptor in benign prostatic hyperplasia would support this concept. Using the receptor stabilizer, sodium molybdate and a hydroxylapatite assay human benign prostatic hyperplasia were assayed for the presence of cytosolic estrogen receptor. For comparison, estrogen receptor in cytosols of prostatic cancer and normal tissue were assayed; androgen receptor and progesterone receptor concentrations in the 3 tissue types were measured. Estrogen receptor was present in 8 of 15 benign prostatic hyperplasia specimens at a mean concentration of 9.2 fmol/mg protein for the estrogen-receptor-positive samples. Sucrose gradient analysis of the estrogen receptor of benign prostatic hyperplasia revealed that it sedimented in the region of 8S, and steroid specificity studies confirmed that the binding to estrogen receptor was estrogen-specific. Estrogen receptor was also found in normal (3 of 3) and malignant (4 of 6) tissues, and all tissues were positive for androgen receptor. The presence of estrogen receptor in human benign prostatic hyperplasia supports the proposal that circulating estrogens may have a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.