Retardation of muscle growth in castrated male mice: further evidence for hormonal influence on muscle development

Abstract

Retardation of muscle growth in castrated male mice was studied as an evidence for the influence of hormones on the development of muscle mass. Male albino mice were castrated at 28days of age by open castration method. The weights and the muscle mass indices (mg muscle weight per gram body weight) of the muscles of these mice were compared with those of control male and female mice at an adult age of 12 weeks. The results obtained showed that the absolute weights and the muscle mass indices of the muscles of castrated males were significantly smaller (P < 0.05) than those of control males. The weights of the muscles of castrated males were significantly greater (P < 0.01) than those of control females. However, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the muscle mass indices of muscles of control female and castrated male mice. These results indicated that retardation of muscle growth following castration of male mice may be the result of loss of the stimulatory influence of testosterone on muscle development in the castrated male mice.


KEY WORDS: Castration, Testosterone, Muscles, Mice


Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol.23(1) 2002: 47-53