Study
Abstract
Finasteride (finasteride) is the prototypical inhibitor of steroid 5α-reductase (5αR), the enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of the conversion of progesterone and testosterone into their main neuroactive metabolites. finasteride is clinically approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and male baldness; while often well-tolerated, finasteride has also been shown to cause or exacerbate psychological problems in vulnerable subjects. Evidence on the psychological effects of finasteride, however, remains controversial, in view of inconsistent clinical reports. Here, we tested the effects of finasteride in a battery of tests aimed at capturing complementary aspects of mood regulation and stress reactivity in rats. finasteride reduced exploratory, incentive, prosocial, and risk-taking behavior; furthermore, it decreased stress coping, as revealed by increased immobility in the forced-swim test (FST). This last effect was also observed in female and orchiectomized male rats, suggesting that the mechanism of action of finasteride does not primarily reflect changes in gonadal steroids. The effects of finasteride on FST responses were associated with a dramatic decrease in corticotropin release hormone (CRH) mRNA and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. These results suggest that finasteride impairs stress reactivity and reduces behavioral activation and impulsive behavior by altering the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Not much information on the methodology so take your grain of salt when you read this study, but it is interesting regardless.
If I look back at my own experience with finasteride I can definitely relate to the inhibition of pro-social behavior, risk-taking and stress coping.
Abstract
Finasteride (finasteride) is the prototypical inhibitor of steroid 5α-reductase (5αR), the enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of the conversion of progesterone and testosterone into their main neuroactive metabolites. finasteride is clinically approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and male baldness; while often well-tolerated, finasteride has also been shown to cause or exacerbate psychological problems in vulnerable subjects. Evidence on the psychological effects of finasteride, however, remains controversial, in view of inconsistent clinical reports. Here, we tested the effects of finasteride in a battery of tests aimed at capturing complementary aspects of mood regulation and stress reactivity in rats. finasteride reduced exploratory, incentive, prosocial, and risk-taking behavior; furthermore, it decreased stress coping, as revealed by increased immobility in the forced-swim test (FST). This last effect was also observed in female and orchiectomized male rats, suggesting that the mechanism of action of finasteride does not primarily reflect changes in gonadal steroids. The effects of finasteride on FST responses were associated with a dramatic decrease in corticotropin release hormone (CRH) mRNA and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. These results suggest that finasteride impairs stress reactivity and reduces behavioral activation and impulsive behavior by altering the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Not much information on the methodology so take your grain of salt when you read this study, but it is interesting regardless.
If I look back at my own experience with finasteride I can definitely relate to the inhibition of pro-social behavior, risk-taking and stress coping.
