期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：1981
卷号：78
期号：9
页码：5876-5880
DOI：10.1073/pnas.78.9.5876
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：The neural control of the clasp reflex in male Xenopus laevis has been studied by using anatomical, electrophysiological, and biochemical techniques. Neurons in spinal segment 2 of castrated males accumulate label after injection of [3H]-dihydrotestosterone; these neurons are distributed within the rostral portions of the motoneuronal pools of the sternoradialis and flexor carpi radialis muscles. In vitro recordings from the nerve to the sternoradialis muscle in the isolated spinal cord preparation from castrated male Xenopus showed increased activation to paired dorsal root stimulation after addition of dihydrotestosterone to the bath. This increase could be prevented by prior administration of cycloheximide. The reducing enzyme testosterone 5 alpha-reductase is present and is selectively distributed in male Xenopus spinal cord. It is speculated that the androgens may alter patterns of neuronal activity leading to the "clasp" muscles and thereby influence myosin types within these muscles.
