Morphological change and characteristics of myofibroblasts during the growth process of benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES To clarify the morphological change and characteristics of myofibroblast during the growth process of benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS This study examined the characteristics of myofibroblasts during the growth process of the prostate in the stromal component-dominant benign prostatic hyperplasia rat model. Transforming growth factor-β1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 expression were evaluated by western blotting (n = 6). We used double immunohistochemical staining to evaluate the number of myofibroblasts positive for α-smooth muscle actin and vimentin in benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues. Expression and histological analyses of the benign prostatic hyperplasia were also carried out in rats at 2, 3 and 8 weeks after urogenital sinus implantation (n = 6). To evaluate the fine morphological characteristics of myofibroblasts in human benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues, electron microscopy analysis was additionally carried out. RESULTS There was a significant upregulation of the transforming growth factor-β1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 expression in benign prostatic hyperplasia (P