Testosterone Metabolites Differentially Maintain Adult Morphology in a Sexually Dimorphic Neuromuscular System

The study investigated the role of testosterone metabolites in maintaining the morphology of the sexually dimorphic spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) neuromuscular system in adult rats. It was found that androgens, specifically testosterone, were crucial for maintaining the size and morphology of SNB motoneurons and their target muscles after castration. Dihydrotestosterone also supported dendritic length but was less effective than testosterone in maintaining soma size and muscle weight. Estradiol was ineffective in preventing atrophy caused by castration. Treatments with finasteride or fadrozole did not affect the morphology in intact males. The findings indicated that androgens, rather than estrogens, were essential for the maintenance of adult motoneuron and muscle morphology.