RATES OF PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS IN THE REGENERATING HYPOGLOSSAL NUCLEUS - EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE TREATMENT

Rates of protein synthesis (1CPS(leu)) along the entire rostral to cau dal extent of the hypoglossal nucleus were determined in adult, female rats with the quantitative autoradiographic L-[1-C-14]leucine method two and five weeks after unilateral hypoglossal axotomy with and witho ut chronic treatment with testosterone. Rates of protein synthesis wer e increased on the axotomized side, and the increases were greater in the rostral portion of the nucleus at both time points examined. The e ffects of axotomy on 1CPS(leu) were less at five weeks post-axotomy th an at two weeks. In spite of the fact that testosterone has been shown to accelerate both the rate of outgrowth of regenerating cranial moto r nerves (Kujawa et al., J. Neurosci. 11:3898-3906, 1991) and the reco very of function (Kujawa et al., Exp. Neurol. 105:80-85, 1989) and to attenuate the loss of neurons (Yu et al., Exp. Neurol. 80:349-360, 198 3) there were no effects of testosterone on 1CPS(leu) in the hypogloss al nucleus in either sham-operated or axotomized rats.