The effect of testosterone upon methamphetamine neurotoxicity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system.

The gonadal steroid hormone estrogen (E) can function as a neuroprotectant of nigrostriatal dopaminergic (NSDA) neurotoxicity, however, there exists very limited information on the role of testosterone (T) in this capacity. In the present report, the effects of T on methamphetamine (MA) induced neurotoxicity of the NSDA system were examined in gonadectomized female and male CD-1 mice. In Experiment 1, striatal dopamine (DA) concentrations and output from T-treated ovariectomized mice were not significantly different from that of non-T-treated mice following MA. These results suggest that T is not functioning as a modulator of MA-induced NSDA neurotoxicity in ovariectomized CD-1 mice. In Experiment 2, there were no significant differences in DA concentrations or output among T-treated, non-T-treated as well as E-treated orchidectomized mice following MA. The results of Experiment 2 indicate that the neuroprotective effect of E reported within ovariectomized mice is not seen in male mice. Nor does T appear to function as a modulator of MA neurotoxicity in male mice. These effects of T and E upon the MA induced neurotoxicity of the NSDA system have important implications for the gender differences which are observed in animal models of NSDA neurotoxicity and in Parkinson's disease.