The involvement of angiotensins in the control of prostatic epithelial cell proliferation in the rat.

The effects of captopril (the inhibitor of the angiotensin-converting enzyme) and of angiotensins II and IV (3-8 fragment of angiotensin II) on cell proliferation of the prostatic epithelium was investigated in the rat. The incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine into cell nuclei was used as an index of cell proliferation. It was found that the treatment with captopril resulted in the suppression of prostatic epithelial cell proliferation. The antiproliferative effect of captopril was reversed (at least partially) by a simultaneous treatment with either angiotensin II or angiotensin IV. The effects of angiotensins were not blocked by the administration of losartan--AT1 angiotensin receptor blocker. These findings suggest the involvement of angiotensins in the control of prostatic growth, acting via the receptors different from the AT1-subtype (presumably via AT4 receptors).