Long-term Surgical and Chemical Castration Deteriorates Memory Function Through Downregulation of PKA/CREB/BDNF and c-Raf/MEK/ERK Pathways in Hippocampus
- Author:
Mal Soon SHIN
1
;
Tae Won KIM
;
Sang Seo PARK
;
Il Gyu KO
;
Chang Ju KIM
;
Mia KIM
;
Su Yeon ROH
;
Kwang Taek KIM
;
Khae Hawn KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Castration; Memory; Neurogenesis
- MeSH: Abdominal Wall; Adenosine Monophosphate; Blotting, Western; Castration; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; Down-Regulation; Goserelin; Hippocampus; Immunohistochemistry; Memory; Memory, Short-Term; Models, Animal; Neurogenesis; Orchiectomy; Phosphorylation; Phosphotransferases; Spatial Memory
- From:International Neurourology Journal 2019;23(2):116-124
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: Goserelin is a drug used for chemical castration. In a rat model, we investigated whether surgical and chemical castration affected memory ability through the protein kinase A (PKA)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and c-Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinases-extracellular signal–regulated kinases (MEK)/extracellular signal–regulated kinases (ERK) pathways in the hippocampus. METHODS: Orchiectomy was performed for surgical castration and goserelin acetate was subcutaneously transplanted into the anterior abdominal wall for chemical castration. Immunohistochemistry was done to quantify neurogenesis. To assess the involvement of the PKA/CREB/BDNF and c-Raf/MEK/ERK pathways in the memory process, western blots were used. RESULTS: The orchiectomy group and the goserelin group showed less neurogenesis and impaired short-term and spatial memory. Phosphorylation of PKA/CREB/BDNF and phosphorylation of c-Raf/MEK/ERK decreased in the orchiectomy and goserelin groups. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term memory and spatial memory were affected by surgical and chemical castration via the PKA/CREB/BDNF and c-Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathways.
