Hormones and CP/CPPS
Rodent prostates can be inflamed by administering estrogens and phytoestrogens. A typical study abstract: Development of rat prostatitis model by oral administration of isoflavone and its characteristics
A urologist comments:
The induction of HISTOLOGIC INFLAMMATION in rodent prostates with estrogens has recently been discussed. I have to admit not being up on that particular strata of basic science literature but will make a few remarks:
1) The scientists are manipulating rat prostates hormonally to
induce inflammation. This is more akin to Type IV CP, NOT Type III
(or II). Do the rats have pain in their nutz? Do they have perineal
aches? Do they feel like they've got little BB's stuck up their
butts? Do they have symptoms of CPPS? Who knows. Rats can't tell
us.
2) This is important as we know that CPPS is a syndromic ailment
that according to some studies isn't always accompanied by histologic
inflammation (I believe the UW group demonstrated this in their
biopsy study, right?) Therefore trying to use this particular animal
model as a proxy for the human disease of CPPS requires a leap of
faith across a couple of Grand Canyon sized chasms IMHO.
Therefore, I certainly do not disdain anyone from doing some half-assed
anecdotal experiment on themselves with "hormonal manipulation" but must raise the question of whether histologic inflammation in
the mouse prostate induced by subQ estrogen or soy-based phyto-estrogens
is the same as CPPS, and I don't think it is.
Our comment
Biopsies show that histological prostatic inflammation is found in many men who have no symptoms of CP/CPPS. It is also found in Prostate Cancer and BPH biopsies.