FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN EPITHELIUM AND STROMA OF HUMAN BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

BACKGROUND. Although it is well known that prostatic 5 alpha-reductase is active only in its membrane-bound form, rather limited information is available concerning the composition of cellular lipids in human B PH. Therefore, in the present study, the phospholipid fatty acid compo sition and content in epithelium and stroma of human BPH have been inv estigated for the first time. METHODS. Phospholipids separated on TLC plates were methylated and fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed by c apillary gas chromatography. RESULTS. The fatty acid composition of to tal phospholipids was significantly different between epithelium and s troma. In particular, the percentage of oleic acid was significantly h igher in epithelium as compared with stroma, whereas that of arachidon ic acid was significantly lower in epithelium than in stroma. In addit ion, significant differences between epithelium and stroma were found in regard to the fatty acid composition of the main phospholipid subcl asses. Another remarkable finding were the age-dependent changes of th e fatty acid composition in human BPH. CONCLUSIONS. This study shows t hat the fatty acid composition of phospholipids is significantly diffe rent between epithelium and stroma of human BPH. Furthermore, age-depe ndent alterations of the fatty acid composition were found. Further st udies are needed to determine whether the endogenous hormonal milieu i n the prostate modulates the fatty acid composition of the prostatic c ells, as well as what impact such modulation could have on the propert ies of membrane proteins, i.e., enzymes like the Sol-reductase and rec eptors, which are thought to be affected by alterations in membrane fl uidity or composition, or both. Prostate 36:235-243, 1998. (C) 1998 Wi ley-Liss, Inc.