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Age-dependent effects of testosterone on spatial memory in male rats
Age-dependent effects of testosterone on spatial memory in male rats
- Source :
- Hormones and behavior. 122
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Decreased spatial memory is common in aging populations and reduces their quality of life. Although its role is still controversial, low testosterone (T) may contribute to impaired cognition in aged men. This study aimed to identify the role of T in age-related deficiencies in spatial memory among male rats. Young adult (3 months old) and aged (21 months old) Wistar rats were assigned to independent groups: intact, orchidectomized, or orchidectomized + subcutaneous pellets of T propionate. The phases of spatial memory acquisition (4 daily trials/4 days) and spatial memory retention (1 trial/day, 3 and 12 days after acquisition) were evaluated using the Barnes maze. Compared with young adults, aged intact rats took longer to find the goal, made more mistakes, and showed only slight improvements in goal sector exploration across the acquisition period. The young orchidectomized rats showed no improvement in performance over the days during the acquisition phase. T treatment in hormonally deprived old rats produced a small improvement in goal sector exploration and number of errors during the acquisition phase. Meanwhile, in young adults, this treatment improved the goal sector searching in the retention phase (12 days after acquisition training). Our results suggested that age-related spatial memory deficits cannot be entirely explained by the decline in T levels; however, this androgen produced subtle and mild beneficial effects on spatial memory in young and old males. Taken together, our findings suggest age differences in the role of T on spatial memory in males.
- Subjects :
- Male
Aging
medicine.drug_class
Physiology
Age dependent
03 medical and health sciences
Behavioral Neuroscience
0302 clinical medicine
Endocrinology
Male rats
Medicine
Animals
Testosterone
Young adult
Rats, Wistar
Maze Learning
Spatial Memory
Memory Disorders
Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
business.industry
Cognition
Memory retention
Androgen
030227 psychiatry
Barnes maze
Rats
business
Orchiectomy
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10956867
- Volume :
- 122
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Hormones and behavior
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....68ad41b42fdbab79638d3a0d5f14d0da