HUMAN PROSTATIC CELLS IN CULTURE - DIFFERENT TESTOSTERONE METABOLIC PROFILE IN EPITHELIAL-CELLS AND FIBROBLASTS FROM NORMAL OR HYPERPLASTICPROSTATES

The prostate gland depends on androgens for its development and the ma intainance of its differentiated structures and secretory function. We have characterized the metabolic pathways of testosterone in isolated epithelial (NE) and fibroblast cultured cells from normal (NF) and hy perplastic (BPHF) prostates, in order to provide a tool for the study of androgen function in the prostate in defined conditions. In NE, 5 a lpha-reductase (5 alpha-R) is the predominant metabolic pathway wherea s in NF 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-OHSDHase) is the main activity. However, 5 alpha-R in NF is 5-10-fold higher than in N E. Furthermore, a striking increase in both enzyme activities is obser ved in fibroblasts from hyperplastic prostates (5 alpha-R x 8; 17 beta -OHSDHase x 250 relative to NF). Delta 4-androstenedione coud serve as a reservoir for testosterone or could be a tentative protective mecha nism directing testosterone metabolism towards an inactive molecule. I n conclusion, human epithelial and stromal cells maintain in culture t heir main metabolic characteristics. The knowledge derived from these studies should facilitate the reconstitution and analysis of their int eractions, which in vivo may modify their respective metabolism. Copyr ight (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.