Prostate carcinogenesis is increased in SPDEF^−/− mice.

<p>Experimental <i>TRAMP/SPDEF^−/−</i> and control <i>TRAMP</i> mice were sacrificed at 23 weeks of age. <b>A</b>. Deletion of <i>SPDEF</i> increased the weight and sizes of prostate glands. Mean weights and diameters of prostate glands (±SD) were calculated from 8–9 mouse prostates per group. <b>B</b>. Efficiency of <i>SPDEF</i> deletion is shown by qRT-PCR. Total prostate RNA was prepared from <i>TRAMP/SPDEF^−/−</i> and <i>TRAMP</i> mice. β-actin mRNA was used for normalization. Data represent means ± SD of three independent determinations using prostate tissue from n = 5–10 mice in each group. <b>C</b>. Increased mRNA levels of <i>Cdc25b</i>, <i>Cyclin B1, Cyclin A2</i>, <i>Plk-1, CKS1, Aurora B</i> and <i>Topo2-alpha</i> were found in <i>TRAMP/SPDEF^−/−</i> prostates by qRT-PCR. Data represent means ± SD of three independent determinations (n = 5–10 mice in each group). <b>D</b>. Increased cellular proliferation in <i>TRAMP/SPDEF^−/−</i> prostates. Mouse prostate glands were harvested 23 weeks after birth and used for immunohistochemistry with Ki-67 and PH3 antibodies. Number of positive cells were counted in 5 random microscope fields (n = 6 mice per group). Data represent mean ± SD. A <i>p</i> value<0.01 is shown with (**) and <i>p</i> value<0.05 is shown with (*). Magnification: panels D, 200×.