The effect of endurance training and testosterone supplementation on the expression of blood spinal cord barrier proteins in rats

PLoS One. 2019 Feb 11;14(2):e0211818. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211818. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The present study aimed to estimate the effect of endurance training, two doses of testosterone, and the combination of these stimuli on the level of the endothelial proteins claudin, occludin, JAM-1, VE-cadherin, ZO-1, ZO-2, and P-glycoprotein in rat spinal cords. Adult male Wistar rats were trained using a motor-driven treadmill for 6 weeks (40-60 min, 5 times per week) and/or were treated for 6 weeks with two doses of testosterone (i.m.; 8 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg body weight). Spinal cords were collected 48 hours after the last training cycle and stored at -80°C. The levels of selected proteins in whole tissue lysates of the spinal cord were measured by western blot. Testosterone-treated trained rats had significantly lower claudin levels than vehicle-treated trained rats. High doses of testosterone resulted in a significant decrease in claudin-5 in untrained rats compared to the control group. Both doses of testosterone significantly reduced occludin levels compared to those in vehicle-treated untrained rats. The JAM-1 level in the spinal cords of both trained and untrained animals receiving testosterone was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The JAM-1 level in the trained group treated with high doses of testosterone was significantly higher than that in the untrained rats treated with 80 mg/kg of testosterone. VE-cadherin levels were decreased in all groups receiving testosterone regardless of endurance training and were also diminished in the vehicle-treated group compared to the control group. Testosterone treatment did not exert a significant effect on ZO-1 protein levels. Testosterone and/or training had no significant effects on ZO-2 protein levels in the rat spinal cords. Endurance training increased P-glycoprotein levels in the rat spinal cords. The results suggest that an excessive supply of testosterone may adversely impact the expression of endothelial proteins in the central nervous system, which, in turn, may affect the blood-brain barrier function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / biosynthesis
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Cadherins / biosynthesis
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / biosynthesis
  • Claudin-5 / biosynthesis
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal*
  • Physical Endurance / drug effects*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Spinal Cord* / chemistry
  • Spinal Cord* / metabolism
  • Testosterone / pharmacology*
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein / biosynthesis
  • Zonula Occludens-2 Protein / biosynthesis

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Antigens, CD
  • Cadherins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Claudin-5
  • Cldn5 protein, rat
  • F11r protein, rat
  • Tjp1 protein, rat
  • Tjp2 protein, rat
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
  • Zonula Occludens-2 Protein
  • cadherin 5
  • Testosterone

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Statuatory Grants from The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice UP/F/5/2015. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.