The mouse as a model to investigate sex steroid metabolism in the normal and pathological prostate

Metabolism of sex steroids within the prostate is an important factor affecting its growth and pathology. Mouse models with genetic gain- and especially loss-of-function have characterised different steroid metabolic pathways and their contribution to prostate pathology. With reference to the human prostate, this review aims to summarize the steroidogenic pathways in the mouse prostate as the basis for using the mouse as a model for intraprostatic steroid signalling. In this review we summarize the current information for three main components of the steroid signalling pathway in the mouse prostate: circulating steroids, steroid receptors and steroidogenic enzymes with regard to signalling via androgen, estrogen, progesterone and glucocorticoid pathways. This review reveals many opportunities for characterisation steroid metabolism in various mouse models. The knowledge of steroid metabolism within prostate tissue and in a lobe (rodent)/region (human) specific manner, will give valuable information for future, novel hypotheses of intraprostatic control of steroid actions. This review summarizes knowledge of steroid metabolism in the mouse prostate and its relevance to the human.Article from the Special Issue on “Steroids and cancer”.

► Metabolism of sex steroids is an important factor affecting prostate growth and pathology.
► Mouse models with genetic gain- and especially loss-of-function have characterised different steroid metabolic pathways and their contribution to prostate pathology.
► Some aspects (5α reduction, androgen dependence) of prostate steroid metabolism between mouse and human are very similar.
► The similarity of other aspects of steroid metabolism (DHEA metabolism, estrogen metabolism) are either unknown or quite different.