Rat model of experimentally induced abacterial prostatitis

BACKGROUND. An experimental model in rats was developed to investigate the significance of mucosal integrity in abacterial prostatitis. METHODS. Ethanol was instilled into the ventral prostates of male rats to r educe mucosal integrity; dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS) was added as an irritant to induce inflammation. Controls received no treatment, ethanol o nly, DNBS only, or a suspension of bacteria. After various time points, rat s were sacrificed, and their prostates were assayed for gross morphology, h istological appearance, and cytokine levels. RESULTS. Prostates subjected to ethanol plus DNBS showed significant inflam mation, most notably after 12, 24, and 48 hr. Inflammation judged by gross and histological observations and interleukin-1 beta levels correlated well at these times. Rats given only ethanol, DNBS, or no treatment, acting as negative controls, displayed little or no inflammation; rats given a bacter ial suspension, acting as positive controls, showed inflammation consistent with past studies. Cytokine assays revealed raised interleukin-1 beta leve ls in this model, while tumor necrosis factor-alpha remained at a basal lev el. CONCLUSIONS. The loss of an intact mucosal surface in the prostate resulted in inflammation caused by an irritant. Interleukin-1 beta appears to play a role in this inflammation, while tumor necrosis factor-alpha does not. Pr ostate 45:201-206, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.