Androgens are neuroprotective in the dentate gyrus of adrenalectomized female rats.
Neuroprotective effects of androgens have not been well-characterized, but there is evidence that 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (3 alpha-diol) has anti-seizure effects. To further examine androgens' neuroprotective effects, testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 3 alpha-diol (1.0 mg/kg SC daily), or sesame oil vehicle was administered to adrenalectomized or sham-operated, young, female Long Evans rats (N = 52). After seven days, animals were perfused and trunk blood was collected for radioimmunoassay of plasma corticosterone and androgens. No pyknotic cells were seen in the dentate of the sham-operated animals or those animals that had incomplete adrenalectomies (n = 20); however, cresyl violet and TUNEL stains revealed pyknotic cells in the granule layer of the dentate gyrus of adrenalectomized rats (n = 28). Testosterone, DHT, or 3 alpha-diol significantly reduced the number of pyknotic cells in the dentate gyrus compared to vehicle administered, adrenalectomized rats. Steroid-administered animals had levels of T, DHT, or 3 alpha-diol within physiological concentrations. These findings suggest that T, DHT, or 3 alpha-diol may have neuroprotective effects via a common mechanism of action.
Frye
C A
CA
Psychology Department, The University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
McCormick
C M
CM
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone