Influence of Testosterone on the Development of the Ischiocavernosus Muscle of the Rat

Abstract

The mean area of the neuromuscular endplates and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity at the myotendinous junction of the ischiocavernosus muscle were studied in normal, castrated and testosterone-treated castrated Wistar rats by the Koelle method. The mean endplate area was found to be smaller in castrated rats, compared to normal ones (p < 0.001), while testosterone treatment restored its normal size (0.8 > p > 0.7). The terminal AChE activity in castrated rats was as strong and spread as in juvenile ones, while it was almost absent in normal and in testosterone-treated castrated rats. The same parameters were examined in the tibialis anterior muscle of the same rats, chosen as a specimen of ‘nonhormone-dependent’ muscle, without finding any difference among the single groups.