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Kritzer MF, Adler A, Locklear M. Androgen effects on mesoprefrontal dopamine systems in the adult male brain. Neuroscience 2024:S0306-4522(24)00306-3. [PMID: 38977069 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Epidemiological data show that males are more often and/or more severely affected by symptoms of prefrontal cortical dysfunction in schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and other disorders in which dopamine circuits associated with the prefrontal cortex are dysregulated. This review focuses on research showing that these dopamine circuits are powerfully regulated by androgens. It begins with a brief overview of the sex differences that distinguish prefrontal function in health and prefrontal dysfunction or decline in aging and/or neuropsychiatric disease. This review article then spotlights data from human subjects and animal models that specifically identify androgens as potent modulators of prefrontal cortical operations and of closely related, functionally critical measures of prefrontal dopamine level or tone. Candidate mechanisms by which androgens dynamically control mesoprefrontal dopamine systems and impact prefrontal states of hypo- and hyper-dopaminergia in aging and disease are then considered. This is followed by discussion of a working model that identifies a key locus for androgen modulation of mesoprefrontal dopamine systems as residing within the prefrontal cortex itself. The last sections of this review critically consider the ways in which the organization and regulation of mesoprefrontal dopamine circuits differ in the adult male and female brain, and highlights gaps where more research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary F Kritzer
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230, United States.
| | - Alexander Adler
- Department of Oncology and Immuno-Oncology, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
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Hamers IMH, Brand BA, Begemann MJH, Weickert CS, Weickert TW, Sommer IEC. The association of prolactin and gonadal hormones with cognition and symptoms in men with schizophrenia spectrum disorder: Divergent effects of testosterone and estrogen. Schizophr Res 2024; 270:273-280. [PMID: 38944973 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Certain antipsychotics elevate prolactin levels in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), potentially affecting cognition, symptoms, and hormone levels. This study examines the association between prolactin, testosterone, and estrogen and cognition and symptoms in men with SSD, considering antipsychotic medication. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 128 men with SSD and 44 healthy men from two trials. Patients were divided into a prolactin-sparing (n = 53) and prolactin-raising group (n = 75) based on antipsychotic medication. We examined the association between hormones (testosterone, estrogen and prolactin), and cognition and symptoms using backward linear regression. Three domains of cognition were assessed including: processing speed, verbal fluency, and working memory, while symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). RESULTS Prolactin levels were highest in the prolactin-raising group, followed by the control group, and lowest in the prolactin-sparing group (H = 45.279, p < .001). Testosterone and estrogen levels did not differ significantly between groups. In the prolactin-raising group, prolactin negatively correlated with testosterone (r(73) = -0.32, p = .005). Higher testosterone predicted better cognitive functioning (working memory: β = 0.20, p = .007, verbal fluency: β = 0.30, p = .001) and lower symptom scores (total: β = -0.21, p = .001; negative: β = -0.24, p = .002) in men with SSD. Conversely, higher estrogen levels related to slower processing speed (β = -0.22, p < .001) and higher symptoms scores (β = 0.23, p = .010) in men with SSD. CONCLUSION The results suggest positive associations between testosterone and cognition and symptoms in men with SSD, while suggesting that high prolactin levels could relate to lower testosterone levels, possibly worsening cognition and symptoms in men with SSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris M H Hamers
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Bodyl A Brand
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Marieke J H Begemann
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Cynthia S Weickert
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Thomas W Weickert
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Iris E C Sommer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands
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Tang S, Huang L, Lin F, Chen X, Wang Y, Xu J, Wang Y, Gao J, Xiao Q. Sex steroid and cognitive function among community-dwelling older men with or without vascular risk factors: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:147. [PMID: 38350861 PMCID: PMC10865607 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04727-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship of testosterone and estradiol concentrations with cognitive function among community-dwelling older men was inconclusive. To examine the association of serum testosterone and estradiol concentrations with cognitive function in older men with or without vascular risk factors (VRFs). METHODS This cross-sectional study consisted of 224 community-dwelling men aged 65-90 years in the Songjiang District of Shanghai, China. Serum testosterone and estradiol were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The following five factors were defined as VRFs in this study: obesity, history of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and coronary heart disease. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association of testosterone and estradiol with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in participants with or without VRF. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression was performed to account for the nonlinearity of these associations. RESULTS An inverted "U" shaped non-linear relationship was found between testosterone concentration and MMSE score in men with one VRF (P overall =.003, non-linear P =.002). Estradiol showed an inverted "U" shaped non-linear relationship with MMSE score independent of VRFs (men without VRF, P overall =.049, non-linear P =.015; men with one VRF, overall P =.007, non-linear P =.003; men with two or more VRFs, overall P =.009, non-linear P =.005). CONCLUSION In older men, an optimal level of sex steroid concentration may be beneficial to cognitive function and the VRFs should be considered when interpreting the relationship between sex steroid and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuning Tang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Limei Huang
- Songjiang Center of Disease Prevention and Control, 201620, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangting Lin
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuqin Chen
- Songjiang Center of Disease Prevention and Control, 201620, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunhui Wang
- Songjiang District Xinqiao Town Community Health Service Center, 201600, Shanghai, China
| | - Jixiang Xu
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Junling Gao
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qianyi Xiao
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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Cartier L, Guérin M, Saulnier F, Cotocea I, Mohammedi A, Moussaoui F, Kheloui S, Juster RP. Sex and gender correlates of sexually polymorphic cognition. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:3. [PMID: 38191503 PMCID: PMC10773055 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00579-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexually polymorphic cognition (SPC) results from the interaction between biological (birth-assigned sex (BAS), sex hormones) and socio-cultural (gender identity, gender roles, sexual orientation) factors. The literature remains quite mixed regarding the magnitude of the effects of these variables. This project used a battery of classic cognitive tests designed to assess the influence of sex hormones on cognitive performance. At the same time, we aimed to assess the inter-related and respective effects that BAS, sex hormones, and gender-related factors have on SPC. METHODS We recruited 222 adults who completed eight cognitive tasks that assessed a variety of cognitive domains during a 150-min session. Subgroups were separated based on gender identity and sexual orientation and recruited as follows: cisgender heterosexual men (n = 46), cisgender non-heterosexual men (n = 36), cisgender heterosexual women (n = 36), cisgender non-heterosexual women (n = 38), gender diverse (n = 66). Saliva samples were collected before, during, and after the test to assess testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone. Psychosocial variables were derived from self-report questionnaires. RESULTS Cognitive performance reflects sex and gender differences that are partially consistent with the literature. Interestingly, biological factors seem to better explain differences in male-typed cognitive tasks (i.e., spatial), while psychosocial factors seem to better explain differences in female-typed cognitive tasks (i.e., verbal). CONCLUSION Our results establish a better comprehension of SPC over and above the effects of BAS as a binary variable. We highlight the importance of treating sex as a biological factor and gender as a socio-cultural factor together since they collectively influence SPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Cartier
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mina Guérin
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fanny Saulnier
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ioana Cotocea
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
| | - Amine Mohammedi
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fadila Moussaoui
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sarah Kheloui
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Robert-Paul Juster
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Kheloui S, Rossi M, Jacmin-Park S, Larocque O, Vallée M, Kerr P, Bourdon O, Juster RP. Psychoneuroendocrine protocol to comprehensively study sexually dimorphic cognition. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2021; 6:100050. [PMID: 35757359 PMCID: PMC9216706 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A large body of research provides evidence for sex differences in cognitive abilities. These sex differences stem from the interplay between biological sex (e.g., birth-assigned sex, sex hormones) and psychosocial gender (e.g., gender identity, gender-roles, sexual orientation). Literature remains rather mixed with regards to the magnitude of sex and gender effects on cognitive abilities and mental health. Growing evidence shows that sex hormone assessment combined with measures of psychosocial gender may be fundamental to comprehensively understand individual differences in sexually dimorphic cognitive abilities. Objectives This study protocol describes a sexually dimorphic cognitive battery to assess the influence of sex hormones on performance. In parallel, we aim to assess the inter-related effects that biological sex and psychosocial gender-based factors exert on cognition and mental health. Methods Our projected sample includes 180 adult participants who are at least 18 years old. Sub-groups will be recruited based on birth-assigned sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Biological measures will be collected via salivary samples throughout testing to include sex hormones (testosterone, estradiol and progesterone) and stress hormones (cortisol). Demographic and psychosocial variables will be measured through self-report questionnaires. Participants will be required to complete eight classic cognitive tasks that assess a variety of cognitive domains in a 2-h testing session. Results and future directions Results from this study provides unique insights into the correlates of cognitive sex differences and gender diversity. This will give us solid ground to further investigate these influences in clinical populations in which sex hormones and cognitive functioning are often altered. Cognition is modulated by multiple sex and gender factors. Cognitive abilities will be assessed among 180 adults representing diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. This protocol aims to nuance the effects of sex hormones in contrast to those of socio-cultural gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kheloui
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada
- Center on Sex∗Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Mathias Rossi
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada
- Center on Sex∗Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Silke Jacmin-Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada
- Center on Sex∗Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Ophélie Larocque
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada
- Center on Sex∗Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Morgan Vallée
- Department of Sociology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada
- Center on Sex∗Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Philippe Kerr
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada
- Center on Sex∗Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Olivier Bourdon
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada
- Center on Sex∗Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
| | - Robert-Paul Juster
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Canada
- Center on Sex∗Gender, Allostasis and Resilience, Canada
- Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal 7331 Hochelaga Street, H1N 3V2, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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6
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Conner MR, Adeyemi OM, Anderson BJ, Kritzer MF. Domain-specific contributions of biological sex and sex hormones to what, where and when components of episodic-like memory in adult rats. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 52:2705-2723. [PMID: 31943448 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Episodic memory involves the integration and recall of discrete events that include information about what happened, where it happened and when it occurred. Episodic memory function is critical to daily life, and its dysfunction is both a first identifiable indicator and an enduring core feature of cognitive decline in ageing and in neuropsychiatric disorders including Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Available evidence from human studies suggests that biological sex and sex hormones modulate episodic memory function in health and disease. However, knowledge of how this occurs is constrained by the limited availability and underutilization of validated animal models in investigating hormone impacts on episodic-like memory function. Here, adult female, adult male and gonadally manipulated adult male rats were tested on the what-where-when episodic-like memory task to determine whether rats model human sex differences in episodic memory and how the hormonal milieu impacts episodic-like memory processes in this species. These studies revealed salient ways in which rats model human sex differences in episodic memory, including a male advantage in spatial episodic memory performance. They also identified domain-specific roles for oestrogens and androgens in modulating what, where and when discriminations in male rats that were unlike those engaged in corresponding novel object recognition and novel object location tasks. These studies thus identify rats and the what-where-when task as suitable for investigating the neuroendocrine bases of episodic-like memory, and provide new information about the unique contributions that sex and sex hormones make to this complex mnemonic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan R Conner
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | | | - Brenda J Anderson
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Mary F Kritzer
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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Jarrett BY, Vantman N, Mergler RJ, Brooks ED, Pierson RA, Chizen DR, Lujan ME. Dysglycemia, Not Altered Sex Steroid Hormones, Affects Cognitive Function in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Endocr Soc 2019; 3:1858-1868. [PMID: 31583367 PMCID: PMC6767628 DOI: 10.1210/js.2019-00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Context Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine condition characterized by multiple reproductive and metabolic abnormalities. Because individual reproductive and metabolic abnormalities modulate working memory in the general population, there is growing interest in whether cognitive function is dually and negatively affected in PCOS. Objective To examine the association of reproductive and metabolic features with cognitive function in women with and without PCOS. Design An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at an academic clinical research center in North America between 2006 and 2009. Common tests of working memory (i.e., manual dexterity, perceptual speed, and visuospatial ability) were performed by women with PCOS (n = 40) and control subjects (n = 40). Markers of sex steroid hormones, ovulatory function, and cardiometabolic health were also assessed. Results Reduced visuospatial ability was observed in women with PCOS compared with control subjects (P < 0.01). Reduced visuospatial ability was linked to higher levels of hemoglobin A1c in the entire study cohort, independent of body mass index or PCOS status. No associations were observed between visuospatial ability and reproductive features, after controlling for confounding variables. Conclusion Our findings support a role for glycemic control, and not PCOS per se, in cognitive dysfunction in women of reproductive age. Additional studies are needed to understand the short- and long-term effects of dysglycemia on brain health in women with PCOS, given their increased propensity for metabolic comorbidities, compared with control subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natalie Vantman
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Reid J Mergler
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Eric D Brooks
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Roger A Pierson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Donna R Chizen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Marla E Lujan
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
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De Loof A. Nature, Calcigender, Nurture: Sex-dependent differential Ca 2+ homeostasis as the undervalued third pillar. Commun Integr Biol 2019; 12:65-77. [PMID: 31143365 PMCID: PMC6527185 DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2019.1592419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
After many years of sometimes heated discussions, the problem regarding the relative importance of two classical dogmas of the Nature (genes and sex-steroid hormones) versus Nurture (education, teaching-learning etc.) debate, is still awaiting a conclusive solution. Males and females differ in only a few (primordial) genes as is well documented by genomic analyses. However, their sex- and gender-specific behavior and physiology is nevertheless profoundly different, even if they grew up in a similar (educational) environment. By extending the “Calcigender-concept”, originally formulated in 2015, to the simplistic binary Nature versus Nurture concept, a novel framework showing that the sex-steroid hormone-dependent intracellular Calcium concentration is an important third factor may emerge. Although the principles of animal physiology and evolution strongly stress the fact that Nature is always dominant, Nurture can, to a limited extent, play a mitigating role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnold De Loof
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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9
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Wagner BA, Braddick VC, Batson CG, Cullen BH, Miller LE, Spritzer MD. Effects of testosterone dose on spatial memory among castrated adult male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 89:120-130. [PMID: 29414025 PMCID: PMC5878712 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous research on the activational effects of testosterone on spatial memory has produced mixed results, possibly because such effects are dose-dependent. We tested a wide range of testosterone doses using two spatial memory tasks: a working-reference memory version of the radial-arm maze (RAM) and an object location memory task (OLMT). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were castrated or sham-castrated and given daily injections of drug vehicle (Oil Sham and Oil GDX) or one of four doses of testosterone propionate (0.125, 0.250, 0.500, and 1.000 mg T) beginning seven days before the first day of behavioral tests and continuing throughout testing. For the RAM, four arms of the maze were consistently baited on each day of testing. Testosterone had a significant effect on working memory on the RAM, with the Oil Sham, 0.125 mg T, and 0.500 mg T groups performing better than the Oil GDX group. In contrast, there was no significant effect of testosterone on spatial reference memory on the RAM. For the OLMT, we tested long-term memory using a 2 h inter-trial interval between first exposure to two identical objects and re-exposure after one object had been moved. Only the 0.125 and 0.500 mg T groups showed a significant increase in exploration of the moved object during the testing trials, indicating better memory than all other groups. Testosterone replacement restored spatial memory among castrated male rats on both behavioral tasks, but there was a complex dose-response relationship; therefore, the therapeutic value of testosterone is likely sensitive to dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A. Wagner
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A
| | | | | | - Brendan H. Cullen
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A
| | - L. Erin Miller
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A
| | - Mark D. Spritzer
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A,Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, U.S.A,Corresponding author: Mark Spritzer, Department of Biology, McCardell Bicentennial Hall, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA, phone: 802-443-5676, FAX: 802-443-2072
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10
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Abstract
Endogenous testosterone in the aging man has been scrutinized extensively in regard to its effects on performance in many cognitive domains, especially verbal fluency, visuospatial and visuoperceptual abilities, memory, and executive function. Studies of testosterone supplementation have sought to identify potential cognitive improvements in men with and without baseline cognitive impairment, and have had a wide range of results. The variability in outcomes is likely related, in part, to the lack of consensus on methods for testosterone measurement and supplementation and, in part, to the disparate measures of cognitive function used in randomized controlled studies. Despite the limitations imposed by such inconsistent methods, promising associations have been found between cognition and testosterone supplementation in both eugonadal men and men with low testosterone levels, with and without baseline cognitive dysfunction. This systematic review highlights the cognitive measures used in and the outcomes of existing studies of testosterone and cognition in aging men. The review suggests that larger studies and a more standardized approach to assessment will be needed before we can fully understand and realize sustained benefits from testosterone supplementation in the elderly male population, particularly given the substantial increase in testosterone supplementation in clinical practice.
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11
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Lv W, Du N, Liu Y, Fan X, Wang Y, Jia X, Hou X, Wang B. Low Testosterone Level and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Elderly Men: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:2679-84. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9315-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND This cross-sectional study examined the associations of hormones and age with short-term memory and perceptual capacity in 472 healthy Asian men. METHODS The symbol digit and digit span tests from the Swedish Performance Evaluation System were used to assess perceptual capacity and memory. Linear regression analyses with the stepwise method were carried out with the SPSS 21.0 package. RESULTS Age was associated with lower dehydorepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA/S), insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), thyroxine (T4), testosterone (T), bioavailable T (BioT) and error rate (Err) but higher glucose (GLU), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol (E2) and retention time (RT). High GLU was associated with higher error rate, longer RT of the perceptual capacity domain and shorter digit span (DSpan) of the short-term memory domain. Higher insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (BP3) was associated with longer DSpan. High cortisol (Cor) was associated with higher Err, while high DHEA/S was associated with shorter RT. All other hormones from the adrenal, somatotrophic and gonadal were not significantly associated with cognition. CONCLUSION The findings suggest (1) a role for tighter control of blood glucose levels in cognitive decline with aging in men, (2) different hormones may be related to different parameters of cognition and "cognition" is not a unitary phenomenon and (3) further investigation of the potential for exogenous DHEA/S to slow cognitive decline in aging, especially as it relates to reaction time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor H-H Goh
- Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University , Bentley, WA , Australia
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Moore L, Kyaw M, Vercammen A, Lenroot R, Kulkarni J, Curtis J, O'Donnell M, Carr VJ, Shannon Weickert C, Weickert TW. Serum testosterone levels are related to cognitive function in men with schizophrenia. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2013; 38:1717-28. [PMID: 23490072 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2012] [Revised: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex steroids such as oestrogen and testosterone are potent neurodevelopmental hormones that also play a role in neuromodulation and neuroprotection of the mature brain. Sex steroid hormones may also be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia as reduced circulating sex steroid levels and changes in brain sex steroid receptors are found in people with schizophrenia compared to controls. In men with schizophrenia, recent studies have documented an inverse correlation between serum testosterone and negative symptoms. Our study sought to confirm whether men with schizophrenia had lower levels of testosterone relative to controls and to determine whether lower testosterone levels were related to higher symptom severity and impaired cognition. METHOD Circulating serum hormone levels (testosterone, oestrogen, and prolactin), cognitive function and symptoms were assessed in 29 chronically ill men with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Twenty healthy men were recruited as a comparison group. A series of regression analyses were performed to determine the extent to which circulating sex steroid hormone levels predict cognition and symptoms in men with schizophrenia. RESULTS We did not find a significant difference in serum testosterone levels between groups. However, circulating testosterone levels significantly predicted performance on verbal memory, processing speed, and working memory in men with schizophrenia. With the exception of an effect of oestrogen on verbal memory, circulating sex steroid levels did not predict cognitive function in healthy men. Testosterone levels were not related to positive or negative symptom severity, but testosterone influenced excitement/hostility levels in our schizophrenia sample. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that circulating sex steroids may modulate cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Moore
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Darlinghurst, New South Wales (NSW), Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
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14
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Spritzer MD, Fox EC, Larsen GD, Batson CG, Wagner BA, Maher J. Testosterone influences spatial strategy preferences among adult male rats. Horm Behav 2013; 63:800-12. [PMID: 23597827 PMCID: PMC3759970 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Revised: 03/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Males outperform females on some spatial tasks, and this may be partially due to the effects of sex steroids on spatial strategy preferences. Previous work with rodents indicates that low estradiol levels bias females toward a striatum-dependent response strategy, whereas high estradiol levels bias them toward a hippocampus-dependent place strategy. We tested whether testosterone influenced the strategy preferences in male rats. All subjects were castrated and assigned to one of three daily injection doses of testosterone (0.125, 0.250, or 0.500 mg/rat) or a control group that received daily injections of the drug vehicle. Three different maze protocols were used to determine rats' strategy preferences. A low dose of testosterone (0.125 mg) biased males toward a motor-response strategy on a T-maze task. In a water maze task in which the platform itself could be used intermittently as a visual cue, a low testosterone dose (0.125 mg) caused a significant increase in the use of a cued-response strategy relative to control males. Results from this second experiment also indicated that males receiving a high dose of testosterone (0.500 mg) were biased toward a place strategy. A third experiment indicated that testosterone dose did not have a strong influence on the ability of rats to use a nearby visual cue (floating ball) in the water maze. For this experiment, all groups seemed to use a combination of place and cued-response strategies. Overall, the results indicate that the effects of testosterone on spatial strategy preference are dose dependent and task dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Spritzer
- Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA.
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15
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Zilbermint MF, Wisniewski AB, Xu X, Selnes OA, Dobs AS. Relationship between sex hormones and cognitive performance in men with substance use. Drug Alcohol Depend 2013; 128:250-4. [PMID: 23021515 PMCID: PMC3637021 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2012] [Revised: 07/17/2012] [Accepted: 08/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypogonadism is common with opiate-like drug use and may contribute to cognitive abnormalities. With the increasing epidemic of HIV and substance use (SU) worldwide, it is important to understand the impact of these conditions on cognition, which may affect quality of life and possibly decrease adherence to treatment. We hypothesized that men with SU, by virtue of hypogonadism secondary to HIV and/or SU, may demonstrate impaired cognition. METHODS We recruited men aged 18-50 from a population of low income, inner-city individuals. Details of HIV and SU status, serum blood levels of total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) and estradiol (E2) were assessed. All subjects were administered ten neuropsychological tests. RESULTS Our sample consisted of 68 men (mean age: 43.2 years (SD 5.8), African Americans: 86.6%). The recruited population was primarily from low socioeconomic status and unemployed. The mean level of TT was 553.9 ng/dL (SD 262.0), the mean level of FT was 69.5 pg/mL (SD 34.8), mean E2 was 3.2 pg/mL (SD 4.4). We found that 30.9% were hypogonadal and it was associated with higher SU. We observed some relationships between sex hormones and cognitive domains, however, after adjustment for age, drug use category, education, depression, HIV, there was no statistically significant correlation between cognitive performance and sex hormone levels. CONCLUSIONS In this cross-sectional study of men with a high prevalence of SU and hypogonadism, endogenous levels of TT, FT or E2 were not related to cognitive performance. Other factors need to be identified which may contribute to poor cognitive function in the setting of SU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihail F. Zilbermint
- Program on Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health Building 10/CRC 1-3140, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1109 USA
| | - Amy B. Wisniewski
- Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 920 Stanton L. Young Boulevard WP 3150 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 USA
| | - Xiaoqiang Xu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287 USA
| | - Ola A. Selnes
- Department of Neurology, Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Reed Hall East, Suite 2206, 1620 McElderry Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21287 USA
| | - Adrian S. Dobs
- Corresponding author Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism 1830 Monument Street, Suite 328, Baltimore, Maryland 21287 USA Tel: +1 410 955 2130 Fax: +1 410 955 8172
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16
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Hodosy J, Ostatníková D, Kúdela M, Celec P. Behavioral Effects of Physical Exercise and Exogenous Testosterone in Male Rats. NEUROPHYSIOLOGY+ 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s11062-012-9312-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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17
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The effect of rapid and depot testosterone and estradiol on spatial performance in water maze. Open Life Sci 2012. [DOI: 10.2478/s11535-012-0046-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractMen and women differ in some cognitive functions including spatial abilities. These differences seem to be affected by sex steroids, but the results are controversial. The aim of this work is to describe the effects of rapid or depot testosterone and estradiol on spatial memory in rats. Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups. Five groups were gonadectomized, and one group was left as control. Castrated groups received sterile oil, testosterone isobutyras, testosterone propionate, estradiol dipropionate or estradiol benzoate. We evaluated spatial performance (escape latency, overall improvement, and time in the quadrant after platform removal) of the rats in a spatial water maze. Animals receiving exogenous sex steroids showed higher plasma concentrations of the particular hormones. Experimental groups improved during the acquisition spatial trials in the water maze. No significant differences between the groups during probe trial were found. In overall improvement, the testosterone depot and estradiol depot groups showed less improvement in comparison to the control groups (P<0.05). No differences in respect to administered hormones were found in corresponding receptor gene expression in hippocampus. In conclusion, exogenous testosterone affects spatial memory of adult castrated males.
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Nagai K, Akishita M, Shibata S, Kobayashi Y, Yamada Y, Kimura S, Machida A, Toba K, Kozaki K. Relationship Between Testosterone and Cognitive Function in Elderly Men with Dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc 2012; 60:1188-9. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.03982.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kumiko Nagai
- Department of Geriatric Medicine; School of Medicine; Kyorin University; Tokyo; Japan
| | - Masahiro Akishita
- Department of Geriatric Medicine; Graduate School of Medicine; University of Tokyo; Tokyo; Japan
| | - Shigeki Shibata
- Department of Geriatric Medicine; School of Medicine; Kyorin University; Tokyo; Japan
| | - Yoshio Kobayashi
- Department of Geriatric Medicine; School of Medicine; Kyorin University; Tokyo; Japan
| | - Yukiko Yamada
- Department of Geriatric Medicine; School of Medicine; Kyorin University; Tokyo; Japan
| | - Sayaka Kimura
- Department of Geriatric Medicine; School of Medicine; Kyorin University; Tokyo; Japan
| | - Ayako Machida
- Department of Geriatric Medicine; School of Medicine; Kyorin University; Tokyo; Japan
| | - Kenji Toba
- National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology; Aichi; Japan
| | - Koichi Kozaki
- Department of Geriatric Medicine; School of Medicine; Kyorin University; Tokyo; Japan
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Duportets L, Bozzolan F, Abrieux A, Maria A, Gadenne C, Debernard S. The transcription factor Krüppel homolog 1 is linked to the juvenile hormone-dependent maturation of sexual behavior in the male moth, Agrotis ipsilon. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2012; 176:158-66. [PMID: 22285394 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2011] [Revised: 01/04/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In the male moth, Agrotis ipsilon, the behavioral response and neuronal sensitivity in the primary olfactory center, the antennal lobe (AL), to sex pheromone increase with age and juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis. Although JH has been shown to control this age-dependent plasticity, the underlying signaling pathway remains obscure. In this context, we cloned a full cDNA encoding the Krüppel homolog 1 transcription factor (AipsKr-h1) of A. ipsilon, which was found to be predominantly expressed in ALs, where its amount increased concomitantly with age and sex pheromone responses. Conversely, the expression of AipsKr-h1 protein in the antenna was age-independent. Moreover, the administration of JH in immature males or fluvastatin, an inhibitor of JH biosynthesis, in mature males induced an increase or a decline of the AipsKr-h1 protein level in ALs, respectively. This effect was suppressed with a combined injection of fluvastatin and JH. Our results showed that Aipskr-h1 is a JH-upregulated gene that might mediate JH action on central pheromone processing, modulating sexual behavior in A. ipsilon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Duportets
- UMR 1272, UPMC-INRA, Physiologie de l'Insecte: Signalisation et Communication, Université Paris VI, Bâtiment A, 7 quai Saint Bernard, 75005 Paris, France
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Hannan AJ, Ransome MI. Deficits in spermatogenesis but not neurogenesis are alleviated by chronic testosterone therapy in R6/1 Huntington's disease mice. J Neuroendocrinol 2012; 24:341-56. [PMID: 21988129 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02238.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Despite the well established central pathophysiology of Huntington's disease (HD), less is known about systemic impairments that are emerging as significant contributors to the morbidity of this neurodegenerative condition. Given the evidence of neuroendocrine dysfunction in HD patients and the pro-neural properties of sex-hormones, we explored the therapeutic potential of hormone therapy in the HD R6/1 mouse model (HD mice). HD mice over-express exon-1 of the defective human HD gene and replicate many of the clinical behavioural, biochemical and physiological impairments. Seven-week-old HD and wild-type littermate mice had either saline (control) or testosterone (treatment; 160μg/day over 90days) pellets implanted s.c. and were subsequently subjected to behavioural, molecular and cellular analysis. Separate mice were used to establish a decrease in serum testosterone concentrations in HD mice at 12weeks of age. Baseline serum testosterone was significantly reduced in control 19-week-old HD mice, whereas treatment significantly raised serum testosterone in both wild-type and HD mice. Testosterone treatment had a limited effect on the development of rotarod deficiencies in HD mice and no effect on progressive body weight loss or the development of central mutant huntingtin-containing aggregates. Testosterone treatment induced hypo-locomotion in both genotypes. Deficits in hippocampal-dependent cognition and neurogenesis were not rescued in testosterone-treated HD mice. By contrast, wild-type-treatment mice experienced significantly increased neuronal survival and differentiation. Testosterone treatment in HD mice did rescue androgen receptor levels in the hippocampus and testes, significantly improved severe testicular atrophy and restored spermatogenesis. We conclude that chronic testosterone provides systemic efficacy in treating spermatogenesis deficits and testicular atrophy but not central cellular and behavioural pathologies in R6/1 HD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Hannan
- Florey Neurosciences Institutes, Melbourne Brain Centre, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Wiechno PJ, Sadowska M, Kalinowski T, Michalski W, Demkow T. Does pharmacological castration as adjuvant therapy for prostate cancer after radiotherapy affect anxiety and depression levels, cognitive functions and quality of life? Psychooncology 2011; 22:346-51. [DOI: 10.1002/pon.2095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2011] [Revised: 10/04/2011] [Accepted: 10/05/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paweł J. Wiechno
- Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center; Department of Urooncology; Warsaw Poland
| | - Małgorzata Sadowska
- Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center; Department of Urooncology; Warsaw Poland
| | - Tomasz Kalinowski
- Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center; Department of Urooncology; Warsaw Poland
| | - Wojciech Michalski
- Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center; Clinical Trials and Biostatistics Unit; Warsaw Poland
| | - Tomasz Demkow
- Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center; Department of Urooncology; Warsaw Poland
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22
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Testosterone levels and cognition in elderly men: a review. Maturitas 2011; 69:322-37. [PMID: 21696899 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2011] [Accepted: 05/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Average testosterone levels and many cognitive functions show a decline with age. There is evidence to suggest that this association is not just age related. Results from cell culture and animal studies provide convincing evidence that testosterone could have protective effects on brain function. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterised by brain pathology affecting cognitive function and AD prevalence increases with age. Testosterone levels are lower in AD cases compared to controls, and some studies have suggested that low free testosterone (FT) may precede AD onset. Men with AD may show accelerated endocrinological ageing, characterised by an earlier lowering of thyroid stimulating hormone, an earlier increase in sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), a subsequent earlier decrease in FT and an earlier increase in gonadotropin levels in response to this. Positive associations have been found between testosterone levels and global cognition, memory, executive functions and spatial performance in observational studies. However, non-significant associations were also reported. It may be that an optimal level of testosterone exists at which some cognitive functions are improved. This may be modified with an older age, with a shifting of the optimal testosterone curve to maintain cognition to the left and a lower optimal level thus needed to be beneficial for the brain. Genetic factors, such as APOE and CAG polymorphisms may further interact with testosterone levels in their effects on cognition. The roles of SHBG, gonadotropins, thyroid hormones and estrogens in maintaining cognitive function and preventing dementia in men are also not completely understood and should be investigated further. Hypogonadal men do not seem to benefit from testosterone supplementation but small scale, short term intervention studies in eugonadal men with and without cognitive impairments have shown promising results. Larger randomised, controlled trials are needed to further investigate testosterone treatment in protecting against cognitive decline and/or dementia.
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23
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Spritzer MD, Daviau ED, Coneeny MK, Engelman SM, Prince WT, Rodriguez-Wisdom KN. Effects of testosterone on spatial learning and memory in adult male rats. Horm Behav 2011; 59:484-96. [PMID: 21295035 PMCID: PMC3081396 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2010] [Revised: 01/20/2011] [Accepted: 01/26/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
A male advantage over females for spatial tasks has been well documented in both humans and rodents, but it remains unclear how the activational effects of testosterone influence spatial ability in males. In a series of experiments, we tested how injections of testosterone influenced the spatial working and reference memory of castrated male rats. In the eight-arm radial maze, testosterone injections (0.500 mg/rat) reduced the number of working memory errors during the early blocks of testing but had no effect on the number of reference memory errors relative to the castrated control group. In a reference memory version of the Morris water maze, injections of a wide range of testosterone doses (0.0625-1.000 mg/rat) reduced path lengths to the hidden platform, indicative of improved spatial learning. This improved learning was independent of testosterone dose, with all treatment groups showing better performance than the castrated control males. Furthermore, this effect was only observed when rats were given testosterone injections starting 7 days prior to water maze testing and not when injections were given only on the testing days. We also observed that certain doses of testosterone (0.250 and 1.000 mg/rat) increased perseverative behavior in a reversal-learning task. Finally, testosterone did not have a clear effect on spatial working memory in the Morris water maze, although intermediate doses seemed to optimize performance. Overall, the results indicate that testosterone can have positive activational effects on spatial learning and memory, but the duration of testosterone replacement and the nature of the spatial task modify these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Spritzer
- Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA.
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24
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Effects of acute alcohol intoxication on verbal memory in young men as a function of time of day. Physiol Behav 2011; 102:91-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2010] [Revised: 10/08/2010] [Accepted: 10/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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25
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Abstract
AbstractTestosterone (T) is known to affect spatial abilities in men and women. Studies focusing on this relationship showed that both endogenous variability of T and administration of exogenous T, altered mental rotation and spatial visualization. Organizational and activational effects of T can be separately identified. The aim of our study was to evaluate the activational effects of exogenous T on spatial memory in male and female rats. T was administered 3 times a week over a two week period in either 1 mg/kg for low testosterone group or 10 mg/kg for high testosterone group. The Morris water maze was performed to assess the rat’s working and reference spatial memory. T and estradiol levels were measured in plasma. Increase in plasma T levels was confirmed in the experimental groups in comparison to the control groups (receiving sterile oil, 3 times a week over a two week period). Low dose T impaired working, but improved reference memory in female rats. In male rats the negative effects of T (both doses) on reference memory were shown. This experiment showed that the activational effects of exogenous testosterone on spatial memory of rats were gender and dose-dependent.
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26
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Lee DM, Ulubaev A, Tajar A, Pye SR, Pendleton N, Purandare N, O'Neill TW, O'Connor DB, Labrie F, Platt H, Payne D, Bartfai G, Boonen S, Casanueva FF, Finn JD, Forti G, Giwercman A, Han TS, Huhtaniemi IT, Kula K, Lean MEJ, Punab M, Silman AJ, Vanderschueren D, Wu FCW. Endogenous hormones, androgen receptor CAG repeat length and fluid cognition in middle-aged and older men: results from the European Male Ageing Study. Eur J Endocrinol 2010; 162:1155-64. [PMID: 20231367 DOI: 10.1530/eje-09-0970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Data remain divergent regarding the activational effects of endogenous hormones on adult cognitive function. We examined the association between cognition, hormones and androgen receptor (AR) CAG repeat length in a large cohort of men. DESIGN Community-based, cross-sectional study of 3369 men aged 40-79 years. METHODS Cognition tests were the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure, Camden Topographical Recognition Memory and Digit-Symbol Substitution. A fluid cognition (FC) z-score was computed from the individual tests. Testosterone, oestradiol (OE(2)) and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; DHEAS, LH, FSH and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) by electrochemiluminescence. Free testosterone and OE(2) were calculated from total hormone, SHBG and albumin. CAG repeat lengths were assayed by PCR genotyping. RESULTS Total testosterone and free testosterone were associated with higher FC z-scores, LH and FSH with lower FC z-scores in age-adjusted linear regressions. After adjusting for health, lifestyle and centre, a modest association was only observed between DHEAS and a lower FC z-score (beta=-0.011, P=0.02), although this was driven by subjects with DHEAS levels >10 micromol/l. Locally weighted plots revealed no threshold effects between hormones and FC. There was no association between CAG repeat length and FC z-score after adjustment for age and centre (beta=-0.007, P=0.06), nor any interaction effect between CAG repeat length and hormones. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that endogenous hormones are not associated with a vision-based measure of FC among healthy, community-dwelling men. Further studies are warranted to determine whether 'high' DHEAS levels are associated with poorer performance on a broader range of neuropsychological tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Lee
- arc Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Manchester Academic and Health Sciences Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary, The University of Manchester, Grafton Street, Manchester, UK
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