COX-1 and -2 expressions in sex-related organs of neonatally estrogen-treated rats and in activated and nonactivated macrophage RAW264.7 cells with phytoestrogen

Endocrine. 2006 Feb;29(1):161-7. doi: 10.1385/endo:29:1:161.

Abstract

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is an inducible isoform, expressed in inflamed leukocytes and cancer cells. It is known that estrogen causes prostate dysplasia, but little is known about COX-2 expression and its influence on male reproductivity. In this study, we show that COX-2 was abolished in the distal end of the vas deferens in neonatally estrogenized (diethylstilbestrol, NeoDES) Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at age of 15 mo, but the control normal rats were found to remain constitutive expression at the same age, while the levels of COX-1 in these rats remained intact. Furthermore, BAX, an indicator of sperm quality, was observed in the endothelium of vas deferens and sperm of the aged rats. However, COX-2 was not detected in the inflamed lesions of NeoDES rat's prostate by immunohistochemistry. In addition to estrogen, hydroxymatairesinol (HMR), a phytoestrogen, was analyzed in vitro for possible regulation on COX-2. Through Western blot analysis, HMR was shown to have no inhibitory affect on COX-2 expression. These results indicated that estrogen treatment strongly influences the expression of COX-2 that is associated with fertility, but no induction of COX-2 by estrogen may not exclude COX-2's role in prostatitis, and the anti-tumor mechanism of HMR largely remains elusive.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Cellular Senescence / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 1 / analysis
  • Cyclooxygenase 1 / genetics*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / analysis
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics*
  • Diethylstilbestrol / pharmacokinetics
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Enzyme Induction / physiology
  • Estrogens / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / drug effects
  • Genitalia, Male / chemistry
  • Genitalia, Male / cytology
  • Genitalia, Male / drug effects*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lignans / pharmacology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophage Activation / drug effects
  • Macrophage Activation / physiology
  • Macrophages / chemistry
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / physiology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / analysis
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Phytoestrogens / pharmacology*
  • Prostate / chemistry
  • Prostate / cytology
  • Prostate / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Spermatozoa / chemistry
  • Spermatozoa / cytology
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Vas Deferens / chemistry
  • Vas Deferens / cytology
  • Vas Deferens / drug effects
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / analysis

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Lignans
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phytoestrogens
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • hydroxymatairesinol
  • Diethylstilbestrol
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Ptgs1 protein, rat
  • Ptgs2 protein, rat