RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of testosterone propionate (TP) on the distribution pattern of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in two types of motoneuron (Mn) pools in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The double labeling of cholera toxin B subunit coupled with colloidal gold (CB-Au) retrograde identification combining with immunocytochemistry was mainly used to reveal the distribution pattern of CGRP-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) and its changes in the motoneuron pools labeled by CB-Au.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>TP injected intramuscularly 28 days later significantly decreased CGRP expression in Mn pool innervating extensor digitorum longus (EDL, fast-twitch), comparing with corresponding control and castration group respectively (P < 0.001), while no significant effect on Mn pools innervating soleus (SOL, slow-twitch, P > 0.05) was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EDL-Mn pool is more sensitive to testosterone propionate than SOL-Mn pool in regulating CGRP expression.</p>