Altered brain and pituitary androgen metabolism by prenatal, perinatal or pre- and postnatal finasteride, flutamide or dihydrotestosterone treatment in juvenile male rats

The study examined the effects of administering finasteride, flutamide, or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) during different developmental periods on androgen metabolism in hypothalamic and pituitary tissue of juvenile male rats. The results showed that alterations in the enzyme activities that metabolize testosterone during the "critical period" of CNS development could drastically alter the hormonal milieu of the developing fetus that can influence the sexual differentiation of the rodent brain and subsequent sexual behavior. The study suggests that 5α-reduced androgens may be involved in the sexual differentiation of the rodent brain.