Identification of androgen receptor in the rat spinal motoneurons. Immunohistochemical and immunoblotting analyses with monoclonal antibody.

Androgens play an important role in motoneuron growth, development and regeneration. We proved the existence of androgen receptor (AR) in the motoneurons of the rat spinal cord by the immunohistochemical stain and Western blotting. The possibility that AR protein in spinal cord is expressed in tissue-specific form is proposed, being different from other androgen-dependent tissues. AR abnormality in X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) among a variety of motor neuron diseases were reported recently. Our study may give some clue to the AR abnormality leading to the degeneration of motoneurons.