Changes in cerebral glucose metabolism and visuospatial capability in hypogonadal males under testosterone substitution therapy

Summary:

Genders differ concerning abilities of spatial cognition; positive associations of testosterone levels with corresponding scores have been reported, as well. We addressed the question whether there is a testosterone-susceptible area within cerebral structures previously described to be involved in mental rotation. Using F-18-deoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET), we studied cerebral glucose metabolism during a standardized 3-dimensional mental rotation task in 6 right-handed men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism before and under testosterone substitution therapy. Under elevated testosterone levels, enhanced cerebral glucose metabolism during mental rotation was observed in the 4 subjects with improved visuospatial capability. Areas involved were previously demonstrated to be activated by such tasks in eugonadal men.

Key words:

Testosterone - visuo-spatial cognition - male hypogonadism - PET-imaging - visual processing stream

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