S. Raghow et al., Immunohistochemical localization of transforming growth factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta during early human fetal prostate development, J UROL, 162(2), 1999, pp. 509-513
Purpose: We investigated the role of peptide growth factors and androgens i
n the developing human prostate.
Materials and Methods: We performed immunohistochemical staining of prostat
e tissue sections from human fetuses 9.5, 11.5, 13, 16.5, 18 and 20 weeks i
n gestation.
Results: The temporal and spatial expression of these growth factors was re
lated to the gestational androgen surge. Before the androgen surge (9.5 to
11.5 weeks) transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta
3 but not TGF-beta 2 were present in the mesenchyme. The epithelium exhibi
ted no detectable staining for any of the growth factors. During the androg
en peak (13 to 16.5 weeks) TGF-beta 1 decreased and TGF-beta 2 increased in
the mesenchyme, and TGF-alpha, TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 3 increased in the
epithelium. With declining androgen levels TGF-alpha, TGF-beta 2 and TGF-be
ta 3 remained unchanged but TGF-beta 1 increased in the mesenchyme with no
change in the tested peptide growth factor levels in the epithelium.
Conclusions: These data suggest that androgens regulate the differential ex
pression of TGF-alpha and TGF-beta, and support a role for peptide growth f
actors as the direct mediators of androgen action on the mesenchymal and ep
ithelial interactions responsible for prostate development.