Age-Related Changes in Brain and Pituitary 5α-Reductase with Finasteride (Proscar) Treatment

    July 1995 in “ Neurobiology of Aging ”
    Edwin D. Lephart
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    TLDR Finasteride affects prostate weights and pituitary activity differently with age.
    This document is a scientific study from 27 years ago that investigated the effects of finasteride (Proscar) on brain and pituitary 5α-reductase activity in male rats of different ages. The study found that finasteride treatment significantly decreased ventral prostate weights, while finasteride plus 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment increased them. Additionally, finasteride plus DHT treatment significantly decreased pituitary, but not brain, 5α-reductase activity. The study suggests that a different mechanism may regulate 5α-reductase with the aging of the central nervous system and pituitary.
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