简介：Aim:Tostudytheapoptoticrate(AR)andtheandrogenandestrogenmilieuintheproximalanddistalductalsystemsofprostate,inordertohelpexploringtheeffectsofthesefactorsonprostaticgrowthandthepathogenesisofbenignprostatichypertrophy(BPH).Methods:Theproximalanddistalendsoftheductalsystemwereincisedfrom20normalprostateaswellasthehypertrophicprostatetissuefrom20patientswithBPH.TheARwasdeterminedbytheDNAend-labelingmethodanddihydrotestosterone(DHT)andestrodiol(E2),byradioimmunoassay.Results:TherewasnosignificantdifferenceinDHTandE2densitybetweentheproximalanddistalendsoftheductalsystemsinnormalprostate.E2appearedtobehigherinBPHthaninnormalprostatictissues,butthedifferencewasstatisticallyinsignificant.Innormalprostatictissue,theARwassignificantlyhigherinthedistalthanintheproximalendsoftheductalsystem(P＜0.05),whiletheARoftheproximalendswassignificantlyhigher(P＜0.01)thanthatintheBPHtissue.NosignificantcorrelationwasnotedbetweentheDHTandE2densityandtheARbothinthenormalprostateandBPHtissues.Conclusion:ThepaperisthefirsttimedescribingadifferenceinARindifferentregionsoftheductalsystemofnormalprostate,whilethehormonalmilieuissimilar,indicatingafunctionalinhomogeneityoftheseregions.AlowARintheproximalduct,whereBPHoriginates,andanevenlowerARintheBPHtissue,suggestingtheparticipationofapoptosisintheBPHpathogenesis.