Examination of the distribution of oestrogen receptor between the stromal and epithelial compartments of the canine prostate

Abstract

The stromal and epithelial elements of the canine prostate gland have been mechanically separated for the individual measurement of the presence of oestrogen receptor. The purity of each fraction was assessed by light and electron microscopy and by certain biochemical parameters and was found to be good. The oestrogen receptor was demonstrated to be predominantly located in the stroma at a concentration of 181.5 +/- 49.3 fmoles/mg cytosol protein compared with that in the epithelium of 44.5 +/- 22.4 fmoles/mg cytosol protein. A high affinity for the tritiated ligand was also shown (kd = 2.81 +/- 0.8 (X 10(10)). A significance of these findings is discussed, especially with regard to the development of prostatic hyperplasia.