Testosterone reduced methylprednisolone-induced muscle atrophy in spinal cord-injured rats

Male rats with complete transections of the spinal cord were administered vehicle or methylprednisolone (MP) for 24 h, with or without infusion, for 7 days, of testosterone at either a replacement or low pharmacological doses. Muscles were collected at 7 days after SCI.

The objective of this study is to determine, in a rat model of complete spinal cord transection, whether testosterone reduces muscle atrophy or upregulates muscle atrophy-linked genes, induced by 24 h of MP administration at doses comparable to those prescribed in man during the period immediately following acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in an attempt to preserve neurological function.

MP significantly reduced the mass of triceps, soleus and plantaris, and significantly increased expression of genes that promote atrophy. Testosterone significantly reduced muscle atrophy induced by MP, but did not prevent it; there was no difference between low- or high-dose testosterone in reducing MP-induced muscle loss. High-dose testosterone reduced expression of muscle atrophy genes more than did low dose. Testosterone-induced declines in mRNA levels for these atrophy-associated genes did not correlate well with protection against MP-induced muscle atrophy.

MP induces marked and lasting changes in the biology of muscle that persisted for at least 7 days, or 6 days after MP has been eliminated from the body. Testosterone partially protected against muscle atrophy and gene expression changes caused by 1 day of MP.