Sex Differences in Brain and Plasma β-Endorphin Content following Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone and Estradiol Administration to Gonadectomized Rats
Abstract
Aims: The present study aims at evaluating the effect of a 2-week treatment with testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol valerate (E 2 V) on brain and plasma β-endorphin (β-END) concentrations in gonadectomized rats of both sexes. Methods: Eight groups of female and 8 groups of male Wistar rats were included. For each sex, 1 group of gonad-intact and 1 group of gonadectomized rats were employed as controls (placebo). The other groups received subcutaneous T at the doses of 10 and 100 μg/kg/day (female rats) or 1 and 5 mg/kg/day (male rats). Subcutaneous DHT was administered at the doses of 1, 10, 100 μg/kg/day (female rats) or 0.1, 1 and 5 mg/kg/day (male rats). E 2 V was administered subcutaneously at 0.05 mg/kg/day. β-END levels were measured in different brain areas and plasma. Results: Ovariectomy (OVX) induced a significant decrease in β-END in all brain areas analyzed as well as in plasma. Orchidectomy (OCX) reduced opioid concentration in the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary and neurointermediate lobe. In OVX rats, T replacement as well as E 2 V significantly increased β-END concentration in all brain areas and in plasma. In the OCX group, T and E 2 V did not influence β-END concentrations in different hypothalamic areas. However, they produced a significant rise in β-END levels in the hypothalamus, neurointermediate lobe, anterior pituitary and plasma. Conversely, DHT replacement did not affect β-END levels at any dose administered, either in males or females. Conclusions: The sensitivity of the endogenous opiatergic system to T administration seems to be sex-related. This effect is particularly evident in the brains of female animals where this endogenous endorphin elicits a much greater response than it does in males that have undergone gonadal steroid depletion and subsequent T replacement.
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Testosterone administration increased β-endorphin levels in the brains and plasma of ovariectomized rats.
“Pluchino et al70 showed that testosterone administration increased β-endorphin levels in the brains and plasma of ovariectomized rats.”
From Prenatal Origins of Endometriosis Pathology and Pain: Reviewing the Evidence of a Role for Low Testosterone (2023) · cites this paper as [70]
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- Authors
- Pluchino, N., Ninni, F., Casarosa, E., Giannini, A., Merlini, S., Cubeddu, A., Luisi, M., Cela, V., & Genazzani, A. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Pisa (IT)
- Venue
- Neuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2009
- Volume
- 89
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 411-423
- ISSN
- 0028-3835 (ISSN-L)
- 1423-0194
- OpenAlex
- W2085146257
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 3.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- erratum (2009-03-19)
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (University of Pisa) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- beta-endorphin, sex differences, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol valerate, gonadectomy, ovariectomy, orchiectomy, hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, neurointermediate lobe, opioid system, rats
- MeSH terms
- Animals, beta-Endorphin, Brain, Estradiol, Female, Male, Orchiectomy, Ovariectomy, Sex Characteristics, Dihydrotestosterone, Testosterone, Rats, Wistar, Rats
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