RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) on growth controlling and the expression of connective tissue growth factor mRNA(CTGF mRNA) in urethra epithelium cells and fibroblasts cultured in vitro. METHODS: Urethra epithelial cells and fibroblasts were cultured in vitro and identified. The fourth generation cells were divided into control group (cultured by cell medium without TGF-ß1) and experimental groups(cultured by cell medium containing TGF-ß1 1, 2, 4 and 8 µg/L), the vital force of cells were examined by MTT and cell counting, the expression of CTGF mRNA were examined by RT-PCR after 24 hours. RESULTS: The optical density and cell count decreased in experimental groups of urethra epithelium cells and increased in experimental groups of fibroblasts with the concentration of TGF-ß1 being heightened compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The expression of CTGF mRNA increased with the heightening concentration of TGF-ß1 in all experimental groups of urethra epithelium cells and fibroblasts by RT-PCR (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TGF-ß1 can inhibit the growth of urethra epithelium cells and promote the growth of fibroblasts in vitro, it can induce the expression of CTGF mRNA in two cells above-mentioned.