In CaPE animals, cellular debris in the lumen and also frequent PINs (i, j, l) and FH (k) are also observed. and P4, even though there are some inflammatory foci and other lesions, the prostate gland revealed morphology closer to that of control animals. In summary, through the administration of P4, we could demonstrate that this hormone has anabolic characteristics, promoting hyperplasia and hypertrophy, mainly in the epithelial compartment. When combined with E2 and T, there is an accentuation of glandular hypertrophy that interrupts the development of hyperplasia and ensures the presence of a less dysplastic glandular morphology. Keywords:castration, gergil prostate, progesterone, puberty Progesterone (P4) is one of the sex hormones synthesized from pregnenolone, which is considered a key factor of this biochemical pathway, as it can give rise to hormones including testosterone (T) and oestrogen (Lagrange & Kelly2003; Aronet al.2004). In the female body, the ovary is the major P4 secretory site in mammals, which is synthesized recurrently during the reproductive cycle. P4 is an important modulator of normal female reproductive functions, which include ovulation and the glandular development of the uterus and breasts, as well as neurobehavioural expression associated with the sexual responses (Lydonet al.1995). All physiological effects of this hormone are regulated by its two isoforms of nuclear receptors, PR and PR-B, which are co-expressed in most target tissues (Graham & Clarke1997; Mulac-Jericevic & Conneely2004). The expression of these two receptor isoforms can be modulated by both P4 and oestrogen. In various target tissues, with the LY2608204 exception of the breast, oestrogen has the ability to increase PR expression, while P4 has the opposite effect (Graham & Clarke1997). The fact that P4 can be considered a female hormone frequently reduces its importance for the male body. Serum concentrations of P4 in male organism, although comparatively lower than those observed in females, can be considered significant. BMP2 In rats of both sexes, serum P4 undergoes a LY2608204 significant increase in its levels during the peripubertal period (3745 days) (Dohler & Wuttke1974). In the male organism, the synthesis of P4 is performed by the adrenal gland, at levels that may be similar to or greater than the amount produced by the ovaries in females, and also by the Leydig cells in the testicles, through the action of 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-HSD) (Fajeret al.1971; Pelletieret al.2001; Andersen & Tufik2006). Besides the presence of the hormone, both isoforms of PR are also expressed in the male reproductive tract, including the prostate gland, whose expression has been studied in prostatic diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP) and carcinomas (Brownet al.1987; Luetjenset al.2006; Wanget al.2007). The use of progesterone derivatives as therapy in men with BHP and prostate carcinoma has been studied for some time (Schacteret al.1989; Gannet al.1996). This interest is due to the fact that progesterone is potentially able to inhibit the action of the enzyme 5-reductase, LY2608204 which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a metabolite with greater affinity for the androgen receptor (AR) (Frederiksen & Wilson1971; Cookeet al.1997). In the female gonadal system, the presence of a prostatic gland, albeit less studied, has already been documented in both humans and rodents (Zaviacicet al.2000; Flaminiet al.2002; Santoset al.2003). Although its function is not fully understood, it is known that the female prostate gland physiology is endocrinologically regulated similar to the male prostate gland (Santoset al.2008; Biancardiet al.2010). An important factor to be taken into consideration regarding the female prostate is hormonal fluctuation due to the reproductive cycle. In Mongolian gerbils, structural studies have shown that hormonal changes in T, E2 and P4 during the oestrous cycle promote morphofunctional changes in the female prostate, such as glandular growth during the stages of pro-oestrus and oestrus, and prostatic regression in dioestrus I and II (Fochiet al.2008). Another important hormone for prostate homeostasis, and which seems to have an influence on.
