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Testosterone regulation of the regenerative properties of injured rat sciatic motor neurons. J Neurosci Res 1993 Jun 15;35(3):268-73

Date

06/15/1993

Pubmed ID

8350388

DOI

10.1002/jnr.490350306

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0027288283 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   63 Citations

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated that systemic administration of testosterone differentially regulates the regenerative properties of injured hamster facial motor neurons, which are androgen receptor-containing cranial motor neurons. In this investigation, the hypothesis that testosterone alters the regenerative properties of rat sciatic motor neurons, which are androgen receptor-containing spinal motor neurons, was tested using fast axonal transport of radioactively labeled proteins to assess sciatic nerve regeneration. Adult castrated male rats were subjected to crush axotomy of the sciatic nerve at the level of the gemelli tendons (mid-thigh). One-half of the axotomized animals received subcutaneous implants of testosterone propionate (TP), with the remainder of the animals sham implanted with blank capsules. The outgrowth distances of the leading axons were measured at 5, 6, 7, and 11 days postoperative. Linear regression analysis was accomplished, with the slope of the line representing the regeneration rate and the x-intercept the initial delay of sprout formation. Systemic administration of testosterone resulted in a 13% increase in the rate of regeneration, relative to the control, -TP group. Outgrowth distances were significantly increased in the +TP group only in the later stages of regeneration. However, TP did not shorten the delay in sprout formation in regenerating sciatic motor neurons, but instead produced a small prolongation in the delay time. This pattern of hormonal regulation of the regenerative properties of spinal motoneurons is similar to that previously found in cranial motoneurons. The prolongation of the initial delay may have been a factor in the lack of significant outgrowth distances during the early stages of regeneration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Author List

Kujawa KA, Jacob JM, Jones KJ

Author

Kathy Kujawa MD Associate Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Axons
Male
Motor Neurons
Nerve Crush
Nerve Regeneration
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Regression Analysis
Sciatic Nerve
Testosterone