Effect of β Radiation on Bcl-2 and Bax Expressions in Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Tissues

The authors chose specimens from nine normal prostate tissues(NP group), 15 benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH) prostates(BPH group), and 35 BPH prostates that had been treated with 90Sr/90Y Prostatic Hyperplasia Applicator(exposure group). The expressions of bcl-2 and bax in stroma and epithelia of prostate tissues were demonstrated by means of immunohistochemical staining, and the staining positive rate was semiquantatively determined, so as to observe the expression of bcl-2 and bax genes in the prostate tissues of normal individuals and BPH patients, before and after β radiation, and to evaluate the influence of β radiation on bcl-2 and bax expressions. The expressions of gene bcl-2 in the prostate epithelia of NP and BPH are significantly higher than those in the prostate stroma(P<0.01). However, the expressions of bcl-2 in the prostate epithelia and stroma of the BPH group are obviously higher than those in the NP group(P<0.01). The expression of gene bax in the prostate epithelia of the NP group is higher than that in the BPH group(P<0.05). However, bcl-2 expressions in the prostate epithelia and stroma of the BPH group are significantly higher than the bax expressions(P<0.01). Compared with those of the NP group, the expressions of bcl-2 in the prostate epithelia and stroma of the exposure group decrease remarkably, even as the expressions of the bax notably increase(P<0.01). Thus, the administration of β radiation can remarkably affect bcl-2 and bax gene expressions, to regulate cell apoptosis, in the prostate tissues of BPH.