Multiple sclerosis (MS) is commonest demyelinating disease among young adults. It demonstrates neurological dysfunctions in females more than males. Gonadal hormones have essential roles in maturation and differentiation of neurons and glial cells in both genders. The role of some gonadal female hormones such as progesterone has been well characterized on demyelination and remyelination in animal models. The role of androgens on neural system development and myelin maturation were identified. We previously observed that castration decreases the brain resistance against demyelinating insults and also reduces the subsequent repair. As the optic nerves and chiasm demyelination shows the hallmark characteristic in MS, inducing demyelination in optic apparatus, we have tried to find whether the effects of elimination of male gonadal hormones using gonadectomy could show the same, more or less changes in patterns of demyelination and repair comparing demyelinated females? Thus, to evaluate these alternations castrated male and female rats were compared by using visual evoked potentials and histological assessments on 2,7,14, and 28 days post lysolecithine (LPC) injection. Interestingly, we observed demyelination was started 2 day post lesion (dpl), reached to a maximum level at 7 and 14 dpl and then it partially but significantly reversed on 28 dpl. Demyelination and subsequent repair processes in both gonadectomized and female groups were shown almost the same patterns temporarily and in quality.
Elimination of gonadal androgens could cause the male animals to undergone the same shape of de/remyelination compared female ones. In conclusion, differences between male and female demyelination and remyelination are substantially depending on male gonadal androgens. This work could be useful for understanding of the effects of sex hormones on demyelinating diseases and could offer fundamental information for repairing therapies in Multiple Sclerosis.