Adverse Effects of the 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride on Daphnia Magna: Endocrine System and Lipid Metabolism Disruption

The study investigates the adverse effects of finasteride on Daphnia magna, revealing significant physiological and molecular disruptions. Chronic exposure over 23 days led to reduced fecundity, delayed first brood, reduced growth, and smaller neonate size. Acute exposure decreased expression of genes crucial for reproduction and development, such as EcR-A/B, Jhe, and Vtg2. Lipidomics and metabolomics analyses showed significant alterations in 464 lipids and 23 metabolites, affecting pathways like the pentose phosphate pathway and histidine metabolism. These findings suggest that finasteride acts as an endocrine disruptor, leading to substantial ecotoxicological effects, highlighting the need for further environmental assessment.