A study of pathology and therapy of the dementia associated with testosterone supplementation-refractory late onset hypogonadism syndrome

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26860135
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General anatomy (including histology/embryology)
• Research Institution: University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (2015); Yamaguchi University (2014)
• Principal Investigator: KOKUBU Keiji 産業医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (00432740)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 男性更年期障害 / 芳香化酵素 / アンドロゲン / エストロゲン / エストロゲン受容体 / 扁桃体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Aromatase which create estrogen from testosterone and two types of estrogen receptor (ERα and ERβ) are expressed in the medial amygdaloid nucleus of the brain. Therefore, it is expected that the brains of men is influenced by estrogen than the women brain.
In the medial amygdaloid nucleus of the castrated male rats used as a model of the male menopause, the quantity of ERα protein was increased in comparison with sham-operated rats. The administration of testosterone or estrogen to the castrated rat decreased ERα protein again. In contrast, the administration of the dihydrotestosterone which was a kind of androgen did not affect the quantity of ERα.
The quantity of the ER β protein was stable without being affected by castration and any sex steroidal hormones.

Free Research Field

神経組織学