Comparison Between Two Different Hamster Models Used for the Determination of Testosterone and Finasteride Activity
February 2010
in “
Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
”
TLDR Young and adult hamsters both respond similarly to testosterone and finasteride treatments, but young hamsters aren't good for testing the inhibitory activity of a specific enzyme.
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of testosterone (T) and finasteride (F) treatments on the diameter of the pigmented spot of hamster's flank organs, as well as on the weight of seminal vesicles and prostate glands in two different animal models: prepuberal and adult hamsters. The results showed that both prepuberal and adult hamsters responded similarly to T and F treatments in terms of the growth of prostate and seminal vesicles. However, the response of the flank organs to finasteride was different between prepuberal and adult hamsters. The study concluded that prepuberal hamsters are a good model for determining androgenic and antiandrogenic activity, but not suitable for determining the inhibitory activity of 5α-reductase enzyme. Both adult and prepuberal hamsters' prostate and seminal vesicles are suitable models for determining androgenic, antiandrogenic, and 5α-reductase inhibitory effects of drugs.
