The Aromatase Inhibitor Fadrozole and the 5-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride Affect Gonadal Differentiation and Gene Expression in the Frog Silurana Tropicalis

The study investigated the effects of the aromatase inhibitor Fadrozole and the 5-Reductase inhibitor Finasteride on gonadal differentiation and gene expression in the frog Silurana tropicalis. The results showed that chronic exposure to Fadrozole and Finasteride affected gonadal differentiation by altering sex ratios and inducing intersex animals. Gene expression analyses confirmed that chemically-induced intersex animals display different gene expression profiles depending on the mode of action of the pollutant. The study also found that Finasteride treatment results in an increased capacity for hepatic activation of thyroid hormones (THs) while decreasing the inactivation pathway in males and intersex.