Gonadectomy reduces the density of androgen receptor-immunoreactive neurons in male rat's hippocampus: testosterone replacement compensates it. Issue 1 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moghadami, Sajjad; Jahanshahi, Mehrdad; Sepehri, Hamid; Amini, Hossein
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain functions. Volume 12:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Testosterone -- Gonadectomy -- Spatial memory -- Androgen receptor -- Hippocampus; Neurobiology -- Periodicals; Cognitive neuroscience -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Brain -- Localization of functions -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; 612.8205
• DOI: 10.1186/s12993-016-0089-9
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-9081

Abstract

Abstract Background In the present study, the role of gonadectomy on memory impairment and the density of androgen receptor-immunoreactive neurons in rats' hippocampus as well as the ability of testosterone to compensate of memory and the density of androgen receptors in the hippocampus was evaluated. Methods Adult male rats (except intact-no testosterone group) were bilaterally castrated, and behavioral tests performed 2 weeks later. Animals bilaterally cannulated into lateral ventricles and then received testosterone (10, 40 and 120 µg/0.5 µl DMSO) or vehicle (DMSO; 0.5 µl) for gonadectomized-vehicle group, 30 min before training in water maze test. The androgen receptor-immunoreactive neurons were detected by immunohistochemical technique in the hippocampal areas. Results In the gonadectomized male rats, a memory deficit was found in Morris water maze test on test day (5th day) after DMSO administration. Gonadectomy decreased density of androgen receptor-immunoreactive neurons in the rats' hippocampus. The treatment with testosterone daily for 5 days attenuated memory deficits induced by gonadectomy. Testosterone also significantly increased the density of androgen receptor-immunoreactive neurons in the hippocampal areas. The intermediate dose of this hormone (40 µg) appeared to have a significant effect on spatial memory and the density of androgen receptor-immunoreactive neurons in gonadectomized rats' hippocampus. Conclusions The present study suggests that testosterone can compensate memory failure in gonadectomized rats. Also testosterone replacement can compensate the reduction of androgen receptor-immunoreactive neurons density in the rats' hippocampus after gonadectomy.