Changes in cerebral glucose metabolism and visuospatial capability in hypogonadal males under testosterone substitution therapy.
Genders differ concerning abilities of spatial cognition; positive associations of testosterone levels with corresponding scores have been reported, as well. We addressed the question whether there is a testosterone-susceptible area within cerebral structures previously described to be involved in mental rotation. Using F-18-deoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET), we studied cerebral glucose metabolism during a standardized 3-dimensional mental rotation task in 6 right-handed men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism before and under testosterone substitution therapy. Under elevated testosterone levels, enhanced cerebral glucose metabolism during mental rotation was observed in the 4 subjects with improved visuospatial capability. Areas involved were previously demonstrated to be activated by such tasks in eugonadal men.
Zitzmann
M
M
Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany.
Weckesser
M
M
Schober
O
O
Nieschlag
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012399:Rotation; D013028:Space Perception; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D013739:Testosterone; D005947:Glucose