Restricted Effects of Androgens on Glucocorticoid Signaling in the Mouse Prefrontal Cortex and Midbrain

This study explored the interaction between androgens and glucocorticoid signaling in the mouse brain, focusing on regions where androgen receptors (AR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) are co-expressed. The research found that androgens affected glucocorticoid signaling specifically in the prefrontal cortex and substantia nigra. Dihydrotestosterone and corticosterone independently and inversely regulated the expression of genes <i>Sgk1</i> and <i>Tsc22d3</i> in the prefrontal cortex. The use of the AR antagonist enzalutamide reduced corticosterone-induced expression of <i>Fkbp5</i> in the prefrontal cortex and both <i>Fkbp5</i> and <i>Sgk1</i> in the substantia nigra. Additionally, AR antagonism increased the expression of <i>Th</i> and <i>Slc18a1</i>, which are important for the dopaminergic system, in the substantia nigra. The findings suggest that while androgen influence on glucocorticoid stimulation is not dominant under high corticosterone levels, it can occur in specific brain regions.