FIG. 3.

Suggested mechanism to explain cortical volume decrease in subjects under supraphysiological doses of testosterone. Increased protein synthesis attracts water into the astrocytes. In turn, to maintain the osmotic equilibrium, astrocytes efflux water to the extracellular space by means of osmolytes such as mI and Gln whose relative content decreases. Decreases in the Gln concentration might affect the Gln–Glu cycle. Gln, glutamine; Glu, glutamate; GluRs, glutamate receptors; mI, myo-Inositol.