Abstract
The prostate is an accessory gland of the reproductive system responsible for the secretion and storage of liquid with nutritional properties. It is found in most mammals and in recent years, has been discussed the presence of female prostate in these bodies, considering its important role in reproductive functions. The secretory portion of the prostate both male and female, is lined by an epithelium composed of basal and secretory cells, and their acini and prostatic ducts are embedded in a fibromuscular stroma. For our research group the adoption of Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) as an experimental model has brought very satisfactory results, since the prostatic lobes of male gerbils have a high degree of similarity with the human male prostate and the female prostate is composed by a very large and active tissue in the process of secretion. Prolactin (PRL) is a polypeptide hormone with pituitary and extra-pituitary synthesis. Nowadays, this hormone are assigned to more than 300 biological activities in the body, among them, functions concerned with reproduction. We already know there is a relationship between prolactin levels and increased prostate diseases in men, and that PRL is responsible for the development of inflammation, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in this tissue. However, the exact role of prolactin in prostate pathologies is not well defined. Studies have shown that circulating PRL levels increase with age and that its concentration is even greater when these conditions develop. Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the effect of prolactin on the maintenance of prostatic histophysiology adult male and female Mongolian gerbil. The analysis will primarily aim to characterize the role of this hormone in the female prostate and compared the effects of the gland between male and female. For this, adult animals will undergo castration and administration of the prolactin inhibitor, bromocriptine, and the administration of exogenous prolactin in two periods of treatment, 7 and 30 days. After these treatments the ventral prostates of males and the prostatic complex of females are subjected to histological, morphometric-stereological, serological and immunocytochemical analysis. The results of this study will be very important for understanding the involvement of prolactin in prostate physiology and maintenance of both male and female. (AU)
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