Neonatal Neurosteroid Levels Are Determinant in Shaping Adult Prepulse Inhibition Response to Hippocampal Allopregnanolone in Rats

January 2013 in “ Psychoneuroendocrinology ”

Sònia Darbra, Laura Mòdol, Monique Vallée, Marc Pallarés

allopregnanolone finasteride neurosteroid hippocampus prepulse inhibition sensorimotor gating Propecia

Studysummary Neonatal neurosteroid levels affect adult brain function and behavior.

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The study investigated the effects of neonatal neurosteroid levels, specifically allopregnanolone (ALLO) and finasteride, on the development of the hippocampus and adult behavior in rats, with implications for neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia. Using 127 male Wistar rats, researchers found that neonatal treatments with ALLO or finasteride significantly altered hippocampal neurosteroid levels at postnatal day 9. These changes were linked to differences in adult behaviors, such as prepulse inhibition (PPI), which is a measure of sensorimotor gating and is often impaired in schizophrenia. The study highlighted the critical role of neonatal neurosteroid levels in shaping adult hippocampal function and related behaviors.

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research Interaction Between Early Postnatal Neurosteroid Manipulations and Adult Infusion of Neurosteroids Into CA1 Hippocampal Region on the Open Field Behavior

11 citations , October 2010 in “Behavioural Brain Research”

This study found that neonatal administration of allopregnanolone enhances, while finasteride suppresses, the effects of adult intrahippocampal pregnenolone sulphate on rat locomotor activity in an open field test.

research Alterations in Neonatal Neurosteroids Affect Exploration During Adolescence and Prepulse Inhibition in Adulthood

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Early-life neurosteroid changes affect adolescent exploration and adult behavior.

research Role of Neurosteroids in Regulating Cell Death and Proliferation in the Late Gestation Fetal Brain

76 citations , July 2009 in “Neuroscience”

This study found that inhibiting allopregnanolone synthesis in late gestation fetal sheep increased apoptosis and dead cell count in the hippocampus and cerebellum, effects that were mitigated by alfaxalone co-infusion.

research Studies on Neurosteroids XXV: Influence of a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, Finasteride, on Rat Brain Neurosteroid Levels and Metabolism

61 citations , January 2008 in “Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin”

In this study, finasteride dose-dependently inhibited stress-induced increases in allopregnanolone in rats, while enhancing 20alpha-reduction of progesterone without affecting 3alpha-dihydroprogesterone or 11-deoxycorticosterone levels.

research A New Look at the 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride

137 citations , March 2006 in “Cns Drug Reviews”

This review explores finasteride's effects on neuroactive steroid levels and their potential influence on disorders like depression and alcohol withdrawal but reports no new clinical findings.

research Inhibition of Rat Alpha-Reductases by Finasteride: Evidence for Isozyme Differences in the Mechanism of Inhibition

98 citations , April 1997 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology”

Finasteride effectively blocks rat enzymes, but with varying methods and strength.