Effects of testosterone and progesterone on brain 5alpha-reductase and aromatase in Long-Evans males and comparison of aromatase in Long-Evans vs. Sprague-Dawley rats.
We investigated medial basal hypothalamic-preoptic area (MBH-POA) 5alpha-reductase and aromatase enzyme activities in gonadally intact and castrated adult Long-Evans (L-E) male rats treated with testosterone (T), progesterone (P), and a combination of T+P. MBH-POA 5alpha-reductase and aromatase activities did not differ significantly among the groups. The lack of a difference in MBH-POA aromatase between control and castrated L-E animals was unexpected. In two further experiments, MBH-POA aromatase was examined in intact and castrated L-E and Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats, using direct and indirect assays. The activity in castrated S-D (but again, not in L-E) rats significantly decreased compared to control values. These data suggest that the absence of gonads does not decrease MBH-POA aromatase in adult L-E rats.
Lephart
E D
ED
Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. edwin@lephart@.byu.edu
Butler
P C
PC
Mills
R H
RH
Jacobson
N A
NA
Ladle
D R
DR
Bloch
G J
GJ
D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D042944:Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000201:enzymology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000378:metabolism*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D013045:Species Specificity; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D001141:Aromatase; D042944:Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase