Effect of gold nanoparticles treatment on the testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Figures & data

Figure 1 Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) representative images of the generated AuNPs deposited on Si surface. (A) 50 nm AuNPs and (B) 20 nm AuNPs.

Figure 2 Size distribution of AuNPs as determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). (A) 50 nm AuNPs and (B) 20 nm AuNPs. X-axis shows the particles diameter, and the Y-axis represents the nanoparticles size as measured by intensity.

Abbreviations: AuNPs, gold nanoparticles; Diam, diameter.

Figure 3 The zeta potential (ζ) distribution of the generated AuNPs.

Abbreviation: AuNPs, gold nanoparticles.

Table 1 Effects of AuNPs treatment on prostate weight/body weight ratio, prostate epithelial thickness and serum of DHT and testosterone levels

	PW/BW ratio	Epithelial thickness (μm)	Serum DHT (ng/mL)	Serum testosterone (ng/mL)
Control	0.14±0.01	5.14±0.12	1649.3±52.8	7.30±0.44
BPH	0.28±0.01*	11.53±0.15*	1865.4±25.3*	12.47±0.99*
BPH +20 nm AuNPs	0.27±0.01*	6.95±0.16*	1925.3±21.1^#*	15.58±0.24^*#
BPH +50 nm AuNPs	0.34±0.02^$*	10.1±0.71*	1933.5±20.1^#*	15.63±0.32^*#

Notes: Data represent the mean ± SEM. *P<0.05 compared to the control group. ^#P<0.05 compared to the BPH group. ^$P<0.10 compared to the BPH group.

Abbreviations: AuNPs, gold nanoparticles, DHT, dihydrotestosterone; BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia; PW/BW, prostate weight/body weight ratio.

Figure 4 Effect of AuNPs treatment on the histomorphological changes of prostate sections (hematoxylin staining; magnification, ×100). Control group shows no histological alteration in the prostate gland. BPH group exhibit more proliferation in the glandular epithelial and stromal area with several papillary projections into the lumen. BPH +20 nm AuNPsgroup but not BPH +50 nm AuNPs show marked reduction in the epithelial hyperplasia, and the intraluminal papillary folds induced by testosterone.

Abbreviations: BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia; AuNPs, gold nanoparticles.

Figure 5 Effect of AuNPs treatment on the prostatic tissue level of TGFβ₁. Data represent the mean ± SEM.*P<0.05 compared to the control group.

Abbreviations: BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia; AuNPs, gold nanoparticles; TGF-β₁, transforming growth factor-β₁.

Figure 6 Effect of AuNPs treatment on the prostatic tissue level of VEGF-A. Data represent the mean ± SEM.*P<0.05 compared to the control group. ^#P<0.05 compared to the BPH group.

Abbreviations: BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia; AuNPs, gold nanoparticles; VEGF-A, vascular endothelial growth factor-A.

Figure 7 Effect of AuNPs treatment on the prostatic tissue level of IL-6. Data represent the mean ± SEM.*P<0.05 compared to the control group. ^#P<0.05 compared to the BPH group.

Abbreviations: BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia; AuNPs, gold nanoparticles; IL-6, interleukin-6.