Testosterone-induced rat model of BPH
Model advantages
The main advantage of the testosterone-induced rat model of BPH is that it presents an enlargement of the prostate sharing common characteristics with human BPH and thus allowing studies on the causative mechanism of BPH symptoms by specifically targeting the prostatic growth and its final consequences.
Pathophysiological features
Prostate features :
The testosterone-induced rat model of BPH exhibits several common characteristics with the human pathology :
- Prostatic enlargement
- Both stromal and epithelial compartments proliferation (figure 1).
 |
| Figure 1: Representative microphotographs of rat prostatic lateral lobes stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) observed at x100 magnification in sesame oil (left panel) and testosterone (right panel)-treated rats (3 weeks, 3 mg/kg/d) (Pelvipharm, internal data). |
Bladder features
- Abnormal bladder function similar to that of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: increase in bladder capacity, in maximal amplitude of bladder contractions and in residual volume, occurrence of non voiding contractions
- Bladder hypertrophy
 |
 |
| Figure 2: Representative cystometrograms in conscious testosterone or vehicle-treated rats. (Pelvipharm, internal data). |
Urethra features
- Increase in urethral pressure
- Increase in urethral phenylephrine-responsiveness in vivo
Summarized methodology
The hormonal-induced prostate hypertrophy in rats is induced by the daily subcutaneous delivery of testosterone (figure 3).
 |
| Figure 3: Evaluation of prostate enlargement induced by daily s.c. testosterone injections (3mg/kg during 3 weeks) (Pelvipharm, internal data) |
Related Pelvipharm bibliography
Julia-Guilloteau, V. et al.
Eur Urol (2006) : 5(2):119 (EAU, 2006)
Eur Urol (2006) : 5(2):119 (EAU, 2006)
Links to applicable Experimental skills
- Administration routes / Regimen
- Bladder blood flow
- Confocal Microscopy
- Ejaculation
- Erection elicited by pharmacological or electrical neural stimulation
- Immunohistology
- Metabolic cages (diuresis, renal function, spontaneous micturition)
- Morphology
- Morphometry
- Organ bath with animal tissues (In Vitro studies)
- Oxidative fluorescence
- Plasma / urine / tissue collection
- Protein expression and activity
- Spectrophotometric assays
- Urodynamic evaluation (anesthetized)
- Urodynamic evaluation (conscious)
Download this page in PDF