The effect steroid hormones on the growth pattern and RNA synthesis in human benign prostatic hyperplasia in organ culture

oestradiol-17p on the morphology and RNA synthesis in human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in organ culture has been investigated. In hormone treated and untreated explants alike, the epithelium multiplied to form several layers. This effect was most marked after exposure to dihydrotestosterone. In explants grown in non-supplemented medium the epithelium showed some squamous changes; testosterone or dihydrotestosterone preserved the secretory character of the epithelium while oestradiol-17p caused cellular degeneration. I The incorporation of 3H-uridine into RNA was studied by autoradiography. In the epithelium, testosterone or dihydrotestosterone raised the uptake significantly over that measured in the control explants, oestradiol-17p reduced itwhile3p-andro-stanediol produced similar values to those found in the control explants. The incorporation of 3H-uridine in the smooth muscle cells was increased by testo-sterone and decreased by oestradiol-17p. A comparison with normal rat prostatic epithelium in organ culture showed that in the absence of androgens the incorpora-tion of 3H-uridine was lower than in BPH and the effect of testosterone correspond