Comparative Uptake of [3H] Androgens by the Brain and the Pituitary of Castrated Male Rats1

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Abstract
An equal dose (15, μCi) of high specific activity [3H]testosterone, [3H]androstenedione and [3H]5α-dihydrotestosterone was administered intravenously to 3 groups of 8 castrated male rats. One hour later the concentration of radioactivity was determined in the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, preoptic region, mesencephalic tegmentum, hippocampus, amygdala, parietal cortex, and plasma. In all cases the highest uptake of radioactivity was observed in the pituitary, the pituitary/cortex ratio being 13.1 for dihydrotestosterone, 5.6 for testosterone, and 2.9 for androstenedione. Only 5α-dihydrotestosterone was accumulated significantly by some brain areas (hippocampus and mesencephalic tegmentum). The highest uptake of labeled material after 5α-dihydrotestosterone administration was found in the hippocampus (hippocampus/cerebral cortex ratio, 2.6), while the mesencephalic tegmentum retained a slightly, but significantly higher level of radioactivity than the parietal cortex. Androgen uptake in other brain structures was variable and did not significantly differ from that of the cerebral cortex.

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