Background: Men over the age of 40 are more likely to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is characterized by proliferation of the prostatic epithelium and stroma. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), is an essential metalloid mineral and antioxidant. In this study, SeNPs were tested for their potential protective and curative impacts on BPH in rats.

Materials and methods: 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: Group I (Control group); Group II (Orchiectomized group): bilateral orchiectomy was conducted on rats; Group III (BPH group): testosterone (TE) enanthate injection was used to induce BPH; Group IV (Protective group): rats were given SeNP before subjecting rats to BPH; Group V (Curative group): rats were succumbed to BPH, followed by administration of SeNP. Measurement of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and TE in serum was performed and prostates were weighed and prepared for histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examination.

Results: In the BPH group, serum TE- and PSA-levels, as well as prostate weight, increased significantly and significant decreases in the protective and curative groups. Reduced acinar lumen, expansion of stroma and epithelial hyperplasia were noticed in the BPH group, which were ameliorated significantly both in protective and curative groups. There was an increase in PCNA immunoreaction in the BPH group and a decrease in both the protective and curative groups. On TEM of BPH group, the nuclei appeared irregular with dilated endoplasmic reticulum, loss of cell boundaries and apical microvilli. The protective group showed more improvement than the curative group.

Conclusions: The effects of SeNPs on BPH induced by TE in rats, were both protective and curative, although the protective effects were more pronounced.