Abstract
Androgens are known to affect cognitive functions via organizational and activational effects. It is unknown whether the effects are mediated via the androgen receptor or after conversion to estradiol with aromatase via estrogen receptors. The aim of our study was to find out whether testosterone affects spatial memory directly or through its metabolite estradiol. Rats were treated with testosterone; with testosterone and the aromatase blocker anastrozole or saline. An 8 radial arm maze was used for testing spatial memory twice daily for 4 days. Each arm was baited with food, and the ability of animals to learn the location of food was assessed. Testosterone treated rats and control rats achieved comparable coefficients of spatial memory, although the plasma levels of testosterone differed markedly. Anastrozole treatment resulted in the worst performance in the maze. The differences between groups did not reach the level of significance. It can be concluded that aromatase and, thus, the conversion of testosterone to estradiol may play a role in spatial memory, as pharmacological blockade of aromatase led to a decrease in maze performace of adult male rats. Detailed molecular mechanisms should be the focus of further studies.
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