Prostate carcinogenesis chemically induced by N-methyl-N nitrosourea (MNU) in Mongolian gerbils: association with steroids promoters or high-fat diet

Author(s)

Bianca Facchim Gonçalves

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
• Defense date: 2013-08-30

Examining board members

Sebastião Roberto Taboga; Luis Fernando Barbisan; Daniele Lisboa Ribeiro; Ana Claudia Polli Lopes; Taize Machado Augusto

• Advisor: Silvana Gisele Pegorin de Campos; Sebastião Roberto Taboga

Abstract

One of the major challenges in the field of prostate cancer research is the search for model systems that allow the investigation of pathological, biochemical and genetic factors of this disease. The gerbil Meriones unguiculatus has enabled the evaluation of prostate lesions and evolution from benign to malignant (invasive) stage after a relatively short period of treatment with the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), a potent causative of DNA methylation by direct action. Thus, this study aimed to: 1) Determine the incidence, multiplicity, and tumor latency of spontaneous and chemically-induced lesions in ventral and dorsolateral gerbils' prostatic lobes; 2) Investigate whether estradiol exerts protective and/or promoter hole on neoplasms induced by MNU; 3) Evaluate the promotional potential of high-fat diet on induced-carcinogenesis in ventral prostate; 4) Analyze the involvement of altered ras gene products and the global DNA methylation status of prostate epithelium on MNU-mediated tumor process. Therefore, we used adult animals subjected to a single intraperitoneal dose (50mg/kg) of MNU, except the control group. The experimental groups were subjected to chronic exposure of androgen, estradiol or high-fat diet for 14 and 28 weeks. The methodologies involved quantitative and statistical analysis of multiplicity and incidence of prostatic lesions, body weight, body fat accumulation, prostate weight, hormonal measurements, proliferative index, karyometry, frequency of AR-positive and basal cells, global methylation status and determination of protein expression. The model of prostatic tumor induction by MNU associated with testosterone in the gerbil was effective because it reduced tumor latency and allows the study of advanced stages of carcinogenesis after short period. Neoplasms manifest initially in dorsolateral lobe and require a longer time to be established in ventral lobe. However, the progression from premalignant to malignant lesions occurs more significantly in the ventral lobe. This indicates that tumor progression occurs differently between prostatic lobes and alternative pathways maybe possibly involved in this process. Long exposure to high doses of estrogen was able to prevent and reduce the rate of tumor growth. Despite therapeutic effects against neoplastic progression, estrogen therapy led to the establishment of an epithelium with distinct characteristics from normal prostate, such as changes in the pattern of DNA methylation and increased amount of basal cell and ARpositive cells. Together, these events contributed to create an unstable epithelial compartment that can cause lesions recurrence in subsequent periods. The association between MNU and high-fat diet promoted an increase in incidence of lesions stimulated by carcinogen alone, which had a higher number of AR-positive cells, disruption of the smooth muscle layer indicating tumor microinvasion and high reactivity for metalloproteinase type 2. Molecular analysis indicated high expression of Ras proteins in tissues induced by MNU, suggesting the involvement of this pathway in the promotion and progression of prostate tumors. Thus, we conclude that the high-fat diet can be considered a promotional agent of prostate carcinogenesis and that gerbil is a good model for histopathological studies (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/11236-7 - Prostate carcinogenesis chemically induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in Mongolian gerbils: association with steroids promoters and high-fat diet
• Grantee: Bianca Facchim Gonçalves
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)