Development and evaluation of a novel experimental autoimmune prostatitis model induced by a prostate-specific antigen mixture in rats

Abstract

Objective To develop a novel experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) model in rats using a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) mixture and to determine the optimal dose by evaluating the dose-dependent effects. Methods Male SD rats were divided into control (saline), low-dose (0.1 mL PSA mixture), and high-dose (0.2 mL PSA mixture) groups. After 7 days of daily injections, general status, body weight, and prostate histopathology were assessed. Serum immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, IgM and cytokines IL-1β, IL-10 were measured by ELISA, while tissue TNF-α and CRP were detected by immunohistochemistry. Testosterone, androgen, and liver/kidney function indicators were also analyzed. Results Compared with the control group, both model groups exhibited successful EAP induction, as evidenced by significant weight loss, disrupted prostate glandular architecture, and severe inflammatory cell infiltration. These pathological changes were consistently more pronounced in the high-dose group. Immunological analysis revealed that model groups had significantly elevated serum immunoglobulins and pro-inflammatory factors, while levels of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 and local testosterone and androgens were markedly decreased. Importantly, no significant damage was detected in major organ biochemical indicators or histopathology, confirming the good biosafety of the modeling method. Conclusion This study successfully developed a novel EAP modeling method based on a PSA antigen mixture. The model effectively mimics the typical pathological and immune characteristics of chronic prostatitis and exhibits a clear dose-dependent response, providing an optimized and reliable experimental tool for subsequent research into the pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis and the evaluation of drug efficacy.