How Estrogen may cause BPH

[twistedneck]

SHBG and androgen
Sex hormone-binding globulin mediates prostate androgen receptor action via a novel signaling pathway. Ding VD Moller DE Feeney WP Didolkar V Nakhla AM Rhodes L Rosner W Smith RG Endocrinology (1998 Jan) 139(1):213-8

Estradiol (E2) and 5alpha-androstan-3alpha,17beta-diol (3alpha-diol) have been implicated in prostate hyperplasia in man and dogs, but neither of these steroids binds to androgen receptors (ARs). Recently, we reported that E2 and 3alpha-diol stimulated generation of intracellular cAMP via binding to a complex of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and its receptor (R(SHBG)) on prostate cells.

We speculated that this pathway, involving steroids normally found in the prostate, was involved in the indirect activation of ARs. Using the dog as a model to test this hypothesis in normal prostate, we investigated whether E2, 3alpha-diol, and SHBG stimulated the production of the androgen-responsive protein, arginine esterase (AE), the canine equivalent of human prostate-specific antigen. In cultured dog prostate tissue preincubated with SHBG, E2 and 3alpha- diol stimulated AE activity. These effects were blocked by hydroxyflutamide, an AR antagonist, and by 2-methoxyestradiol, a competitive inhibitor of E2 and 3alpha-diol binding to SHBG. In the absence of exogenous steroids and SHBG, AE also was significantly increased by treatment with forskolin or 8-Bromoadenosine-cAMP. These observations support the hypothesis that in normal prostate, E2 and 3alpha-diol can amplify or substitute for androgens, with regard to activation of the AR via the R(SHBG) by a signal transduction pathway involving cAMP. Because both E2 and 3alpha-diol are involved in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia in dogs and implicated in benign prostatic hyperplasia in man, antagonism of the prostatic SHBG pathway may offer a novel and attractive therapeutic target.

 

[muscleup]

well I can understand some of this...Interesting for sure....Bump

 

[F117A Active Stealth]

Oh, Basically Estrogen can cause an enlarged Prostate.

I've been on Proscar for like 6 months now, so I'm not worried...

 

[twistedneck]

I've always suspeced exogenious DHT would be a good remedy for bph. I wonder if its been tried? This study pointed me to that conclusion

Effect of aging on endogenous level of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, estradiol, and estrone in epithelium and stroma of normal and hyperplastic human prostate
M Krieg, R Nass and S Tunn
Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Clinic Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany.

It is widely believed that benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is associated with aging. Thus, the question arises whether or not a correlation exists between the well known prostatic androgen and estrogen accumulation and aging. To address this question, we measured 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone, estradiol, and estrone in epithelium and stroma of six normal (NPR) and 19 BPH and correlated the values with the age of the donors (26-87 yr). The mean DHT level in NPR epithelium was significantly higher than in NPR stroma, and also significantly higher than in epithelium and stroma of BPH. The epithelial DHT level of NPR and BPH decreased with age, the correlation being statistically significant. The stromal DHT level of NPR and BPH showed no correlation with age. Concerning testosterone, generally rather low values were found which showed no correlation with age. The mean levels of estradiol and estrone were significantly higher in BPH stroma as compared to BPH epithelium as well as to NPR epithelium and stroma. In NPR, the mean levels of estradiol and estrone were significantly higher in epithelium than stroma. In NPR and BPH, the stromal estradiol and estrone levels increased significantly with age. In epithelium such a correlation between the estrogen levels and age was not found. Our results indicate that the prostatic accumulation of DHT, estradiol, and estrone is in part intimately correlated with aging, leading with increasing age to a dramatic increase of the estrogen/androgen ratio particularly in stroma of BPH.

and this study showing as we age more DHT is produced by the testies and the prostate itself, less dht is produced from 5ar reduction of T.

Altered metabolism of androgens in elderly men with benign prostatic hyperplasia
T Ishimaru, L Pages and R Horton


Kinetics of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and 5alpha- androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (3alpha-diol) were studied in 7 elderly healthy men (ages 61 to 80 years) with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Clearance rates were determined by the constant infusion technique with labeled testosterone and DHT. Metabolic clearance rate (MCR), conversion ratio (CR), the transfer constants (rho) and production rates (PB) were calculated. Plasma androgens were measured by specific radioimmunoassay. Plasma testosterone was 516 +/- 314 (SD) ng/dl, plasma DHT was 74.6 +/- 19.6 (SD) ng/dl and plasma 3alpha-diol was 16.4 +/- 4.1 (SD) ng/dl. An elevated DHT level in elderly men with BPH wasconfirmed. MCRT was 620 +/- 65 (SD) liter/day and MCRDHT was 393 +/- 50 (SD) liter/day. Both MCRT and MCRDHT in elderly men were significantly lower than in young men. PBT was 3.2 +/- 2.1 (SD) mg/day and PBDHT was 291 +/- 87 (SD)migrogram/day. PBDHT was the same in elderly and young men. DHT production is maintained in elderly men despite reduction of testosterone production. From the data, it was claculated that in contrast to young men where greater than 80% of blood DHT is from secreted testosterone, over 50% in elderly men is derived from secretion or production of DHT by the testis or even more likely the prostate.