Constant expression of cyclooxygenase-2 gene in prostate and the lower urinary tract of estrogen-treated male rats

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (E. C. 1.14.99.1) in prostate and the lower urinary tract (LUT) of the neonatally estrogenized male rat has been studie d by using a COX-2's PCR fragment of 724 nt spanning 3 introns and a 478nt internal standard for quantitative RT-PCR. The same fragment of 724 nt was used for RNA probe in Northern hybridization. Neonatal estrogenization (10 mug/day of diethylstilbestrol on days 1-5) had no effect on COX-2 expressio n in prostatic urethra, prostatic lobes. or bladder. Acute estrogen treatme nt of castrated animals did not induce COX-2 expression. either. In additio n the differential expression of basal level of COX-2 in the different lobe s of prostate in normal rat was demonstrated. Our results suggest a constan t expression of COX-2 gene in prostate and the lower urinary tract of the n eonatally estrogenized (neoDES) rats. The present study indicates that the increased expression of COX-2 is probably not essential for the estrogen-dr iven development of stromal inflammation or hyperplastic and dysplastic alt erations in the prostate of neoDES rats.