Target-dependent hormonal control of neuron size in the rat spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus

The spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) in the rat is a cluster of sexually dimorphic motoneurons that innervate perineal muscles. In adult male rats, the size of SNB neurons is reduced following castration, and this effect is reversed by treatment with testosterone. However, androgen receptors are present in the perineal muscles as well as in SNB neurons. Therefore, it is not clear whether the neuronal size is regulated by direct action of the hormone on SNB neurons or by a target-derived factor that may be controlled via hormonal action on the innervated muscle. To address this question, the peripheral (pudendal) nerve of SNB neurons on one side was cut and united to the grafted soleus muscle, which lacks androgen sensitivity. On the control side, the pudendal nerve was similarly cut but was allowed to reinnervate the perineal muscles. The size of SNB neurons was measured on both sides after a postoperative period of 10 weeks, during which the animal had been castrated or treated with testosterone after castration. The size of SNB neurons that had reinnervated perineal muscles was reduced following castration and enlarged by testosterone treatment. In contrast, the size of SNB neurons that had innervated the soleus muscle remained unaltered in response to testosterone manipulation. It is concluded that hormonal regulation of the size of SNB neurons in adult rats is mediated by their target muscles.