Castration in rats impairs performance during acquisition of a working memory task and exacerbates deficits in working memory produced by scopolamine and mecamylamine

Daniel, Jill M.; Winsauer, Peter J.; Moerschbaecher, Joseph M.

doi:10.1007/s00213-003-1537-4

Cited by 66 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Like effects on the spatial working memory processes of the medial prefrontal cortex demonstrated previously (Daniel et al, 2003;Kritzer et al, 2007;Kritzer et al, 2001), the adverse effects of GDX on the NOR task observed here were attenuated by supplementing GDX animals with TP but not E, and were significantly correlated with a bioassay of circulating androgens--BSM weight. Although not examined in this study, there are several reasons to suspect that correlations previously found between the effects of GDX on medial prefrontal working memory function and on the density of its functionally critical dopamine (DA) innervation (Kritzer et al, 2007) may also extend to the perirhinal-dependent processes of the NOR task, since the effects of GDX on DA innervation in perirhinal prefrontal fields are qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those observed in medial prefrontal areas and are likewise androgen dependent (Kritzer et al, 2003), and because performance on NOR tasks, like that of the medial prefrontal cortical-mediated spatial working memory (Stam et al, 1989;Zahrt et al, 1997) is also impaired by selective perturbations of the prefrontal dopamine system (Morrow et al, 2000).…”

Section: Summary Conclusion and Future Directionssupporting

confidence: 69%

“…Recent studies in adult male rats have identified modulatory roles for gonadal steroids on working memory and other types of cognitive tasks that are known to be sensitive to lesions of the medial (Ceccarelli et al, 2001;Daniel et al, 2003;Kritzer et al, 2007;Turvin et al, 2007) and orbital (Kheramin et al, 2003;Kritzer et al, 2007) divisions of the prefrontal cortices in rats. The studies presented here now demonstrate gonadal hormone sensitivity for a spontaneous NOR task that is sensitive in part to lesions of the third major subdivision of the rat PFC -the perirhinal prefrontal cortices.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies in animal models also suggest an importance of gonadal steroid stimulation for prefrontal cortical function in males. For example, gonadectomy in adult male rats has been shown to significantly impair performance in maze and operant tests of spatial (Daniel et al, 2003;Kritzer et al, 2007;Kritzer et al, 2001) and non-spatial (Ceccarelli et al, 2001) working memory and behavioral flexibility (Kritzer et al, 2007), which are processes that are dependent on the medial prefrontal cortices (Dias and Aggleton, 2000;Kesner et al, 1996;Lacroix et al, 2002;Schwabe et al, 2004;Taylor et al, 2003), as well as performance on a progressive reward ratio task (Kritzer et al, 2007) which is sensitive to lesions of the orbital prefrontal cortices (Kheramin et al, 2005). In this study, analyses of hormone sensitivity were extended to a task sensitive in part to lesions of the perirhinal prefrontal cortices, a spontaneous novel object recognition (NOR) task, to test the hypothesis that functions mediated by this third major division of the prefrontal cortex may also be sensitive to long-term gonadectomy and hormone replacement in adult male subjects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of gonadectomy and hormone replacement on a spontaneous novel object recognition task in adult male rats

Aubele

Kaufman²,

Montalmant

et al. 2008

Hormones and Behavior

107

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Recent studies in adult male rats have shown that gonadal hormones influence performance on certain working memory and other types of cognitive tasks that are sensitive to lesions of the medial and/or orbital prefrontal cortices. This study asked whether gonadal hormone modulation of prefrontal cortical function in males also extends to the perirhinal division of the rat prefrontal cortex. Specifically, sham-operated control, gonadectomized, and gonadectomized rats supplemented with testosterone propionate or estradiol were tested on a spontaneous novel object recognition task, a paradigm where performance has been shown to be impaired by perirhinal cortical lesions. Using analyses of variance, regression analyses and post-hoc testing to evaluate group differences, it was found that during both the sample and test trials of the task all four groups spent similar absolute and proportional amounts of time ambulating, rearing, stationary, and exploring the two objects present. All groups also explored each of the two identical objects present during sample trials equally. However, during the test trials, only the control and gonadectomized rats given testosterone showed the expected increase in exploration of the novel objects presented, whereas the gonadectomized and gonadectomized, estradiol-supplemental groups continued to explore the novel and familiar objects equally. That regression analyses also identified significant correlations between low bulbospongiosus muscle weight and impaired novel vs. familiar object discrimination further indicates that gonadectomy in adult male rats adversely affects spontaneous novel object recognition in an androgen-sensitive, estrogen-insensitive manner.

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Section: Summary Conclusion and Future Directionssupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effects of gonadectomy and hormone replacement on a spontaneous novel object recognition task in adult male rats

Aubele

Kaufman²,

Montalmant

et al. 2008

Hormones and Behavior

107

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thus, broad conclusions are more difficult to draw. In general, the bulk of evidence suggests that gonadectomy impairs memory in males tested in the radial arm maze, T-maze, Barnes Maze, and object recognition tasks, as well as several operant tasks that test prefrontal cortex function (Ceccarelli et al 2001;Kritzer et al 2001Kritzer et al , 2007Daniel et al 2003;Sandstrom et al 2006;Aubele et al 2008;Gibbs and Johnson 2008;Spritzer et al 2008;Locklear and Kritzer 2014). However, the deleterious effect of gonadectomy does not extend to all types of memory, particularly spatial reference memory tested in the Morris water maze (Gibbs 2005;Sandstrom et al 2006;Spritzer et al 2008).…”

Section: Effects Of Exogenous E 2 On Memory In Malesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex steroid hormones matter for learning and memory: estrogenic regulation of hippocampal function in male and female rodents

et al. 2015

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Ample evidence has demonstrated that sex steroid hormones, such as the potent estrogen 17b-estradiol (E 2 ), affect hippocampal morphology, plasticity, and memory in male and female rodents. Yet relatively few investigators who work with male subjects consider the effects of these hormones on learning and memory. This review describes the effects of E 2 on hippocampal spinogenesis, neurogenesis, physiology, and memory, with particular attention paid to the effects of E 2 in male rodents. The estrogen receptors, cell-signaling pathways, and epigenetic processes necessary for E 2 to enhance memory in female rodents are also discussed in detail. Finally, practical considerations for working with female rodents are described for those investigators thinking of adding females to their experimental designs.Hormones have long been known to play key roles in regulating learning and memory. Many hormones, including epinephrine, glucocorticoids, and insulin influence learning and memory via inverted U-shaped dose-response relationships in which memory is enhanced by moderate, but not low or high, hormone levels (Roozendaal 2000;Korol and Gold 2007;McNay and Recknagel 2011). Research from the past two decades has demonstrated that sex steroid hormones, particularly the potent estrogen 17b-estradiol (E 2 ), also regulate learning and memory in male and female rodents via an inverted U-shaped dose-response function that is influenced by estrogen receptor expression (Packard and Teather 1997a;Packard 1998;Foster 2012). Yet E 2 has not gained widespread acceptance as a hormonal modulator of memory in both females and males, perhaps because the majority of this research has been conducted in female rodents. Moreover, the common view of E 2 as a "female" hormone may contribute to the misperception that E 2 is not relevant for cognitive function in males. However, considerable evidence supports a vital role for E 2 in mediating neural function and behavior in male rodents. Therefore, it is important for investigators working with males to understand the ways in which E 2 and other sex steroid hormones (e.g., androgens, progestins, and other estrogens) may influence their brain regions and behaviors of interest.Another reason for investigators to be cognizant of sex steroid hormone-induced regulation of learning and memory is that males and females may respond differently to various treatments and environmental factors. A classic example is that of acute stress, which enhances classical conditioning and increases apical CA1 dendritic spine density in male rats, but impairs classical conditioning and decreases CA1 spine density in female rats (Wood and Shors 1998;Shors et al. 2001). Therefore, investigators hoping to comply with National Institutes of Health policies that encourage the inclusion of females in biomedical research must be aware that adding females to a study is not as simple as adding another group. In some ways, females are fundamentally different from males, the most obvious of which is the presence of reproductive...

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“…Whereas these researches have primarily focused on estrogen in females, recent evidence suggested that testosterone can also modulate learning and memory in males through its stimulation of the hippocampal neurons (Daniel et al, 2003;Hajszan, 2007 ;Leonard et al, 2007). Animal studies suggested that sex hormones play a role in the organization of the nervous system and memory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Castration and Testosterone Substitution on the Hippocampus in Adult Male Albino Rats

El-Sawaf

2010

The Egyptian Journal of Anatomy

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Background: It was previously documented that hypogonadal men suffer from learning and memory impairment. Recent researches proved the role of the hippocampus in controlling learning and memory functions mediated by the action of gonadal hormones. However, the mechanism of this action is debatable. Aim of the Work: To verify the effects of castration and testosterone substitution on the neuronal structure of the hippocampus in adult male albino rats. Material and Methods: Twenty adult male albino rats were divided into 4 groups : control (group I), castrated nontreated rats (group II), castrated rats provided with immediate daily injections of dihydrotestosterone (group III) and castrated rats injected with daily dihydrotestosterone 3 weeks post surgery (group IV). Six weeks post surgery, all rats were sacrificed and their hippocampi were processed to be examined with the light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Results: Significant structural changes of the hippocampi obtained from Groups II and IV were noticed. Meanwhile, rats of group III showed restoration of the normal hippocampal structure compared to that of the control. Conclusion: Castration affected the structure of the hippocampus which may explain learning and memory impairment in cases of hypogonadism. Early testosterone substitution would prevent these effects. However, late substitution showed no protective role which may indicate that hippocampal damage, when occurs, is irreversible.

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Castration in rats impairs performance during acquisition of a working memory task and exacerbates deficits in working memory produced by scopolamine and mecamylamine

Cited by 66 publications

References 36 publications

Effects of gonadectomy and hormone replacement on a spontaneous novel object recognition task in adult male rats

Effects of gonadectomy and hormone replacement on a spontaneous novel object recognition task in adult male rats

Sex steroid hormones matter for learning and memory: estrogenic regulation of hippocampal function in male and female rodents

Effects of Castration and Testosterone Substitution on the Hippocampus in Adult Male Albino Rats

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