Introduction: Mast cells are involved in a number of biological responses to exocrine and endocrine stimuli, by releasing growth factors and certain cytokines. The aim of this study was to evaluate their number and distribution in experimentally induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats. Materials and Methods: Adult Wistar rats (100 days old) were given citral transdermally for 1 month. Morphological characteristics and mast cell concentration were studied in proximal and distal zones after staining with hematoxylin-eosin and Giemsa, respectively. Results: Citral induced mild benign prostatic hyperplasia. Mast cell numbers were increased significantly in both the proximal (2.97 ± 0.52 vs. 1.4 ± 0.17, p = 0.004) and distal zone (2.8 ± 0.68 vs. 1.16 ± 0.11, p = 0.011). Conclusion: Transdermal citral application resulted in a significant increase of mast cell numbers in the stroma of the rat ventral prostate. Furthermore, these mast cells were larger, contained a significant number of intracytoplasmic granules and degranulated. This finding suggests a role for mast cells in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Keywords:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, Mast cells, Citral
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© 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel
2010
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