A × C Rat Prostate Adenocarcinoma: Initial Characterization of Testosterone Regulation of Hormone Receptors of Cultured Cancer Cells and Derived Tumors

A × C rat prostate cancer cells were established in continuous culture. The polygonal epithelial cells had granular cytoplasm and well-defined cell margins, contained round to oval nuclei with prominent nucleoli, and were tumorigenic when inoculated into A × C male rats. The tumors produced by the injected prostate cancer cells grew as well-vascularized, solid, cribriform adenocarcinomas. The rat prostate cancer cells and derived tumors contained cytoplasmic and nuclear androgen receptors and prolactin receptors. Androgen regulation of prolactin receptor content and androgen receptor distribution in A × C rat prostate cancer cells were comparable to those of the normal ventral prostate gland. These studies suggest that the A × C rat prostate cancer cells and tumors may represent a unique model for studies of hormonal regulation of prostate cancer cell behavior.