Figure 2.

Testosterone signaling favors LPS-induced neutrophil recruitment in both androgen-dependent and –independent sites.(A)–(B) Rats were orchidectomized (OX) and treated with testosterone 2 mg/kg/day (T) before being inoculated with 1 mg of LPS intraprostatically for 24 h. (A) Representative H&E staining showing an intense neutrophil infiltration in testosterone-treated animals. Bar = 100 μm. (B) Quantification of neutrophil recruitment to the prostate in H&E-stained slides (left) and by flow cytometry using a FITC anti-Gr antibody (right). (C) Peritoneal neutrophil recruitment was achieved by injecting LPS 1 mg/kg for 12 h, with the quantification of neutrophils being performed by hemocytometer (left) and flow cytometry (right). (D) Neutrophil recruitment in the liver observed by intravital microscopy after an i.p. LPS 0.5 mg/kg injection. Mice were previously treated with testosterone (T; 10 mg/kg/day) or with the inhibitor of androgen signaling flutamide (FLUT; 7 mg/kg/day). The presence of testosterone increases neutrophil recruitment to the liver sinosoids. Left: representative images (see Supplementary Movie 1). Right: quantification of Ly6G (+) neutrophils per field of view. Data represent the mean ± SEM from at least three independent animals. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.