Inhibition of cultured rat prostatic epithelial cell growth by epristeride in vitro

To study the molecular mechanism of rat prostate atrophy induced by epristeride. MTT test was used to determine the effect of epristeride on the growth of prostatic epithelial cell induced by exogenous epithelial growth factor (EGF) or insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). RT-PCR and flow cytometry were then used to quantitatively detect the mRNA and protein expressions of EGFR and IGF-I R of the epithelial cells treated or untreated with epristeride. Epristeride attenuated growth of epithelial cells induced by exogenous EGF, IGF-I. Epristeride 360 nmol/L inhibited EGFR and IGF-I R expression at mRNA level, while epristeride 180 nmol/L had no marked effect on EGFR and IGF-I R mRNA expression. Both epristeride 180 nmol/L and 360 nmol/L could down regulate EGFR and IGF-I R protein levels. The molecular mechanisms of prostatic epithelial cell atrophy induced by epristeride might be associated with alteration in the expression of growth factor receptors such as EGF and IGF-I.