5alpha-Reductase Inhibitors Dampen L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia via Normalization of Dopamine D1-Receptor Signaling Pathway and D1-D3 Receptor Interaction
January 2019
in “
Neurobiology of Disease
”
TLDR Finasteride and dutasteride reduce unwanted movements from Parkinson's disease treatment by normalizing certain brain signals.
In the 2019 study, finasteride (FIN) and dutasteride (DUTA), both 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, were found to significantly reduce L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID) in a rat model of Parkinson's disease without affecting the therapeutic effects of L-DOPA. DUTA was more effective at lower doses and did not impact motor activation, suggesting it could be a better option for controlling dyskinesia without compromising the benefits of L-DOPA. The study, which included groups of 7-13 rats, showed that these inhibitors prevented the upregulation of striatal dopamine D1 receptor-related signaling pathways and reduced the interaction between D1 and D3 receptors, indicating a potential new therapeutic target for dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease.
