Effect of the 5α-Reductase Enzyme Inhibitor Dutasteride in the Brain of Intact and Parkinsonian Mice
TLDR Dutasteride may protect the brain in early Parkinson's disease.
The study investigated the neuroprotective effects of dutasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, in mice models of early-stage Parkinson's disease (PD). Dutasteride pre-treatment prevented the loss of striatal dopamine and its metabolite DOPAC, and mitigated the effects of MPTP on dopamine transporter (DAT), vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), and D2 receptor binding. It also reduced inflammation by lowering GFAP levels in MPTP-treated mice. The study suggested that dutasteride's neuroprotective effects might be due to altered steroid levels, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for PD. Further research was recommended to understand the molecular mechanisms involved.