(A) Protein expression of p-ERK and ERK. (B) Densitometer analysis of p-ERK/ERK ratio using ImageJ software. Con, corn oil-injected (s.c.) + DW administration; BPH, TP (5 mg/kg, s.c.) + DW administration; BPH+K_EF, BPH+ heat-killed E. faecalis (7.5 × 1012 CFU/g, 2.21 mg/kg) administration; BPH+L_EF, BPH + live E. faecalis (1 × 1011 CFU/g, 166 mg/kg) administration; BPH+Fi, BPH + finasteride (1 mg/kg) administration. Data are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 8). Significant differences at ##p < 0.01 compared to Con. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 compared to BPH.