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How Does Testosterone Affect Brain In Men?

Posted on Sat, 3 Jan 2015

Question: Hello, I have a general query about testosterone in male babies...does it have some effects on the brain through the androgen receptor? Or are all its effects through aromatization to estrogen?

Please could you advise

Best Regards

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It effects brain through Estrogen.

Detailed Answer:
Dear,

Thanks for asking.

As direct answer to your question testosterone effects brain through estrogen. This is the only mechanism which is confirmed and accepted till date.

There are several tests which says testosterone as helper in demyelination but those aren't confirmed.

I would be more helpful if you provide me with more information.

Hope my answer will help you

Best regards
Dr Eris Ranxha
Neurologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Eris Ranxha (3 hours later)

Dear Dr Ranxha,

Thanks for the helpful advice. If i may, I have two more queries.

Testosterone is obviously during gestation to develop the male genitalia. During this time of high circulating testosterone, does brain myelenation also occur in the fetal brain?

And does it have an influence on the fetal brain mylenation?

thanks and Best Regards

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Not in fetal.

Detailed Answer:
Dear,

I understand your concern but it is still under development therapy no specific test are made to confirm it.

Testosterone doesn't have any role in myelination during embryogenesis

Hope I have clarified all your doubts

Don't hesitate to contact for further queries
Stay healthy
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Eris Ranxha (1 hour later)

Ok. Im not knowlegde so excuse if this question is basic.

During fetal brain 'organization' and development, does this involve or occur through myelination?

Thats all my questions. Thanks and Regards,

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes

Detailed Answer:
Dear
it is true but it isn't related to testosterone or its levels
It is a spontaneous process
Hope I have been understandable
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Eris Ranxha (1 hour later)

Thanks Dr. Eris for the valued advice,

What about in adolescence, is myelination related to high levels of testoerone during this period? Or again is it irrelevant just as in fetal life?

Wishing you all the best

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Physiologicall process

Detailed Answer:
Dear
myelination is a physiological process which happens no matter levels of testosterone
For the last two years is seen that high levels of testosterone stimulate myelination but only in cases when patient suffers from demyelination and still it is experimental not reached valuable results
Once again feel free to ask other questions
Hope my answer had helped you
Best regards
Dr Eris

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Eris Ranxha (22 hours later)

Dear Dr Eris,

Thats very helpful. Theres a topic that is driving me crazy. I keep thinking that my gonadotropins in my childhood juvenile phase became abolished...even though many studies suggest it just gets to very low levels and not tottaly abolished.

From your point of view of neurology, During any point in our lives, do Gnrh and gonadotropins ever become totally abolished?

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can happen

Detailed Answer:
Dear
you must understand that normally (physiologically) gonadotropin never goes abolished
It can happen at some pathological situation when patient shows a lot of symptoms and when patient get testosterone hormone (from outside) and interrupt it immediately
Hope you have understood what I was trying to say
If you tell me hole story I think I can be more helpful
Stay healthy
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Eris Ranxha (1 hour later)

Well i had slightly delayed puberty, when i was 14.5 years old. I was examined and told i was 'in very early puberty' so im assuming my testis was greater than 4ml volume.

I was given choice of sex steroids(for pubertal effects) or anabolic steroids(for just growth effects - i chose anabolic as i only wanted bit more height.

Subsequently i discovered that anabolic steroids could 'progress' puberty at the central level ie matures the hypo-pit-gonadal axis. I dont mind this - just as long as i had some activity , no matter how minute, of Gnrh/gonadotropin BEFORE the treatment at 14.5 . It makes me feel more reassured.

So thats why i'm investigating and hoping to have a concrete evidence that during the juvenile years after the XXXXXXX puberty, there is Gnrh/gonadotropins in everyone...just like theres oxygen carbon dioxide respiration in everyone...

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Don't worry

Detailed Answer:
Dear
now I understand your concern
If you have now normal physical and mental development you have nothing to worry about
It is known as physical abnormality, a deviation from normal development but still normal
It is not a pathological situation
If you have been examined lately and doctors say you are okay you really are so don't worry
You will be fine,
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Eris Ranxha (38 hours later)

Dear Dr Eris , thank you for all the valued advice.

Just one last thing please. You mentioned above:

'you must understand that normally (physiologically) gonadotropin never goes abolished'

do you mean during adulthood it never goes abolished, or never since time we were fetus?

Wishing you all the best,
RF

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Adulthood

Detailed Answer:
Dear
Sorry for not been as clear as I would
Gonadotropin never goes abolished during adulthood (beside cases I mentioned previously)
Feel free to ask for further details or information
Stay healthy
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Eris Ranxha (20 minutes later)

Thanks Dr Eris for advice,

What about in the juvenile childhood phase ie right after the mini-puberty ?

Best Regards

Answered by Dr. Eris Ranxha (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Multifactorial

Detailed Answer:
Dear
we talked earlier about that
It can be absent during puberty even due to diet or other factors (such as infection, hormonal deficits, or medical treatment)
It can even be a normal deviation but examinations are needed before saying that.
Anyway in your case I don't think you have to be worried too much
Have you ever done brain MRI and gonadotropin dosage now?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari