Decreased contractile effect of endothelin-1 on hyperplastic prostate.

1. The contractile activity, binding activity and localization of endothelin (ET)-1 were evaluated in human nonhyperplastic (control) and hyperplastic prostates. 2. ET-1 caused contraction of both prostates in a dose-dependent manner. However, this contraction was markedly decreased in hyperplastic prostates. 3. Bmax and Kd values of hyperplastic prostates were greater than those of the control. 4. The muscle and proliferative epithelium of hyperplastic prostates showed strong staining for the anti-ET-1 antibody. However, the glandular epithelium of control prostates was weakly stained. 5. These findings indicate that responsiveness to ET-1 is decreased, though the ET-1 and ET-1 receptors increase in the hyperplastic prostate. Namely, the increase in ET-1 receptors is not effective in regulating the contractile response of the prostate, because its expression is rather dominant in proliferated gland. 6. These suggest that ET-1 may not have an important role in the release of the obstructive symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy.