Santos, Fernanda C.A.Rochel-Maia, Sabrina S.Fochi, Ricardo A.Justulin, Luis A.Santos, Sérgio A.A. [UNESP]Vilamaior, Patrícia S.L.Felisbino, Sérgio L. [UNESP]Góes, Rejane M. [UNESP]Taboga, Sebastião R. [UNESP]2014-05-272014-05-272011-09-15General and Comparative Endocrinology, v. 173, n. 3, p. 419-427, 2011.0016-64801095-6840http://hdl.handle.net/11449/72680The gerbil female prostate undergoes morphological and physiological changes resulting from hormonal fluctuations that occur during the reproductive cycle. These repetitive cycles of glandular growth and regression are followed by an extensive reconstruction and remodeling of prostate stroma throughout the reproductive life of the female gerbil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect that the hormonal fluctuations of the reproductive cycle have on the stromal remodeling and the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and -9 in the adult female gerbil prostate. For this, serological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and biochemical methods were employed. The results showed that the major stromal alteration coincide with the peak of estradiol, which occurs in estrus, and with the peak of progesterone, occurring during diestrus II. MMP-2 and -9 presented a similar pattern of expression and activity during estrous cycle. The estrus was the phase of greater expression and activity of MMP-2 and -9. On the other hand, in DI and DII, the tissue expression and activity of MMP-2 and -9 was very weak. These results are important since they suggest the involvement of estradiol and progesterone in regulating the expression and activity of MMP-2 and -9 in adult gerbil female prostate. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.419-427engEstrous cycleFemale prostateMMPsSteroid hormonesUltrastructureestradiolgelatinase Agelatinase Bprogesteronetestosteroneanimal cellanimal tissuecontrolled studydiestrusenzyme activityenzyme regulationestrus cyclefemalegerbilhormone blood levelimmunohistochemistrymalenonhumanpriority journalprostateprotein expressionprotein functionprotein localizationserologyAnimalsEstradiolEstrous CycleFemaleGerbillinaeMaleMatrix Metalloproteinase 2Matrix Metalloproteinase 9ProgesteroneProstateTestosteroneArtigo10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.06.017Acesso aberto2-s2.0-800524470492-s2.0-80052447049.pdf70663581237904340000-0002-0970-42880000-0001-9559-5497