Identification of mesenchymal genes involved in prostate organogenesis by LongSAGE analysis

Growth and development of the prostate are regulated by androgens and mesenchymalepithelial interactions. Prostate growth starts in the embryo, continues throughout neonatal life, and is completed at puberty. The male and female embryonic urogenital sinus (UGS) both contain a prostate precursor, but due to the action of testosterone only the male will develop a prostate. Testosterone acts in concert with paracrine signalling from inductive mesenchyme to regulate epithelial growth and branching of the prostate. The ventral mesenchymal pad (VMP) is an area of inductive mesenchyme that is rich in regulatory growth factors of which few have been identified at present. Recently, the role of mesenchyme/stroma in cancer has been established and developmental factors may be involved in mediating the effects of cancer stroma. The aim of this thesis was to identify mesenchymal factors and characterise their expression and function in the developing prostate, and to investigate their expression in prostate cancer stroma.

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Edinburgh

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Orr, Brigid

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1842/29308

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:era.ed.ac.uk:1842/29308