Exposição neonatal ao etinilestradiol aumenta o crescimento da próstata ventral e promove a hiperplasia epitelial e inflamação em gerbilos machos adultos

Abstract

The prostate is an accessory gland of genital system responsible for producing an alkaline liquid which ensures sperm survival and capacitation. Its development occurs under the influence of an androgen and estrogen regulated and precise control, so sensible interferences may predispose this gland to developing diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and cancer during adult and senile life. Inappropriate exposure to exogenous estrogens in embryonic and neonatal development period has been related to permanent disturbances in morphophysiology of various organs of the male reproductive system. Epidemiological studies indicate that men who were exposed to estrogenic compounds during intrauterine and neonatal development had higher probability of infertility and testicular and prostate cancer. Until now, it is not possible to say whether there are intrinsic factors of development that may predispose prostatic gland to the development of cancer with age. However, as early exposure to steroid hormones can permanently alter various reproductive organs, it is questionable whether such agents may interfere in the prostate structure and physiology. Based on these reports, the aim of this study was to analyze morphologically the ventral prostate of adult gerbils exposed to ethynylestradiol (EE) during the first week of prenatal development. To this, we employed morphological, stereological-morphometrical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural methods. The results showed that the postnatal exposure to EE duplicated the prostatic complex weight, increasing the relative frequency of epithelial and stromal compartments, besides the secretory activity of the ventral lobe of the prostate. All glands exposed to EE showed strong stromal reshuffling and some foci of epithelial hyperplasia and inflammatory infiltrated in both luminal and epithelial or stromal compartments. Cells positive for AR and PCNA increased into the epithelial and stromal tissues. ERα-positive cells, which are normally found into stromal compartment of intact prostates, were frequently observed in the prostatic epithelial of treated animals. This study demonstrated that the exposure to EE during the postnatal development causes histophysiological alterations of this gland, predisposing to the development of prostatic lesions during life. These results are important taking account public health, considering the EE has been largely used by women worldwide. Moreover, the bioaccumulation of this chemical has been increased in different ecosystems.