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Open Access 01-01-2018 | Original Article

Effects of testosterone treatment on hypothalamic neuroplasticity in female-to-male transgender individuals

Authors: Georg S. Kranz, Andreas Hahn, Ulrike Kaufmann, Martin Tik, Sebastian Ganger, René Seiger, Allan Hummer, Christian Windischberger, Siegfried Kasper, Rupert Lanzenberger

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is used to measure gray matter tissue density and white matter fiber organization/directionality. Recent studies show that DWI also allows for assessing neuroplastic adaptations in the human hypothalamus. To this end, we investigated a potential influence of testosterone replacement therapy on hypothalamic microstructure in female-to-male (FtM) transgender individuals. 25 FtMs were measured at baseline, 4 weeks, and 4 months past treatment start and compared to 25 female and male controls. Our results show androgenization-related reductions in mean diffusivity in the lateral hypothalamus. Significant reductions were observed unilaterally after 1 month and bilaterally after 4 months of testosterone treatment. Moreover, treatment induced increases in free androgen index and bioavailable testosterone were significantly associated with the magnitude of reductions in mean diffusivity. These findings imply microstructural plasticity and potentially related changes in neural activity by testosterone in the adult human hypothalamus and suggest that testosterone replacement therapy in FtMs changes hypothalamic microstructure towards male proportions.

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Title: Effects of testosterone treatment on hypothalamic neuroplasticity in female-to-male transgender individuals
Authors: Georg S. Kranz
Andreas Hahn
Ulrike Kaufmann
Martin Tik
Sebastian Ganger
René Seiger
Allan Hummer
Christian Windischberger
Siegfried Kasper
Rupert Lanzenberger
Publication date: 01-01-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Brain Structure and Function / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-017-1494-z

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Springer Medicine

Effects of testosterone treatment on hypothalamic neuroplasticity in female-to-male transgender individuals

Abstract

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Springer Medicine

Abstract

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