Androgens are neuroprotective in the dentate gyrus of adrenalectomized female rats.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: C A Frye, C M McCormick
• Journal: Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands) (Stress) Vol. 3 Issue 3 Pg. 185-94 (May 2000) ISSN: 1025-3890 [Print] England
• PMID: 10938579 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Neuroprotective Agents
• Dihydrotestosterone
• Androstane-3,17-diol
• Testosterone

Topics

• Adrenalectomy
• Analysis of Variance
• Androstane-3,17-diol (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects, physiology)
• Cell Count (drug effects)
• Dentate Gyrus (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Dihydrotestosterone (pharmacology)
• Female
• In Situ Nick-End Labeling
• Neurons (cytology, drug effects)
• Neuroprotective Agents (pharmacology)
• Radioimmunoassay
• Rats
• Rats, Long-Evans
• Testosterone (metabolism, pharmacology)