Sheila Jean-Charles and Regina Sullivan. Queensborough Community College, Bayside, NY
There is vast interest in understanding the differences that are incorporated in the male and female central nervous system (CNS). Within this project rats are used to contrast the spinal motor neurons: bulbocavernosus and levator ani, two penis muscles which are being blocked from producing androgen by flutamide, against the retrodorsal lateral nucleus, which contain motor neurons that innervate the flexor digitorm brevis muscle. Specifically looking at these motor neurons in the CNS will help distinguish differences between the male and female CNS. The methodology that will be used in the experiment is to look at the different morphological conditions that the motor neurons are in, by using computer software Image J. This software will allow measurement and observation of the motor neurons. The results will determine whether the absence of androgen in male rats will show similar or contrasting morphological differences to that of female motor neurons. Thus, a conclusion can be derived that states that the blocking of androgen has a direct or indirect effect of the normal development of male spinal motor neurons.