Payame Noor University Experimental animal Biology 2322-2387 Articles in Press 2013 11 20 Role of the androgen receptors in memory impairment in mature male rats Role of the androgen receptors in memory impairment in mature male rats 1 17 518 FA Journal Article 2013 03 19 Steroidal sex hormones especially testosterone have a protective effect in neurodegenerative events such as Alzheimer Disease. The present study was designed to explore effect of testosterone and androgen receptors in memory impairment induced by intra- cerebroventricular (icv) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) as a model of sporadic AD. In this research animals were divided randomly into 11 equal groups. Experimental model of AD was induced by bilateral icv injection of STZ. STZ-induced memory impairment was assessed two weeks after the last dose of STZ by using a passive avoidance task. The interval between the placement of animals in the illuminated chamber and the entry into the dark chamber was measured as step-through latency (STL). Castration was performed by surgical removing of testis and behavioral study of memory impairment was done after 4 weeks. Results of this study showed that icv injection of STZ could induce marked (p<0.001) memory impairment. Memory was worsened in castrated rats (P<0.001) when compared with normal and sham-operated animals. Testosterone replacement therapy in 4 week castrated rats restored memory up to the level of control groups. Testosterone had not any significant effect on memory impairments of non-castrated rats. According to the obtained results it can be concluded that testosterone improves cognitive and memory impairment of AD. Steroidal sex hormones especially testosterone have a protective effect in neurodegenerative events such as Alzheimer Disease. The present study was designed to explore effect of testosterone and androgen receptors in memory impairment induced by intra- cerebroventricular (icv) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) as a model of sporadic AD. In this research animals were divided randomly into 11 equal groups. Experimental model of AD was induced by bilateral icv injection of STZ. STZ-induced memory impairment was assessed two weeks after the last dose of STZ by using a passive avoidance task. The interval between the placement of animals in the illuminated chamber and the entry into the dark chamber was measured as step-through latency (STL). Castration was performed by surgical removing of testis and behavioral study of memory impairment was done after 4 weeks. Results of this study showed that icv injection of STZ could induce marked (p<0.001) memory impairment. Memory was worsened in castrated rats (P<0.001) when compared with normal and sham-operated animals. Testosterone replacement therapy in 4 week castrated rats restored memory up to the level of control groups. Testosterone had not any significant effect on memory impairments of non-castrated rats. According to the obtained results it can be concluded that testosterone improves cognitive and memory impairment of AD. https://eab.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_518_2f4ca902f5c261f777f910aedfed1a3e.pdf