Development of a new in vitro model for the study of benign prostatic hyperplasia

BACKGROUND. The search for novel agents for the treatment of the lower urin ary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH ) is dependent on an increased understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. Unfortunately, in vitro and animal models have been of limited val ue. METHODS. This article describes a novel model system in which the interacti ons of the stromal and epithelial components of the prostate gland can be d etermined. RESULTS. The coculture system provides a simple model of the cellular inter actions occurring in the adult human prostate. CONCLUSIONS. This coculture system could potentially be used to determine t he precise molecular site of action of agents such as terazosin on prostati c apoptosis. Prostate Supplement 9:15-20, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.