Dihydrotestosterone in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-The missing link?

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Testosterone has been postulated to be involved in ALS causation.

Materials and methods

CSF levels of free testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were measured in 13 ALS patients [7 males, 6 females] and 22 controls [12 males, 10 females].

Results

CSF free testosterone levels did not show any significant differences but CSF dihydrotestosterone levels were significantly decreased in all male and female ALS patients.

Conclusions

DHT is probably integral to survival of motor neurons. In patients predisposed to develop ALS, there is possibly a sort of "testosterone resistance" at level of blood-brain barrier [BBB] existing right from birth and is likely the result of dysfunctional transport protein involved in testosterone transfer across the BBB. In these

SUBMITTER: Sawal N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7667368 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature