Finasteride Effectively Attenuates the Impairments of Left Ventricular Function and Cardiac Sympathovagal Balance in Both Aging and Obese Male Rats via Reducing Systemic Oxidative Stress

Finasteride (FIN) was found to improve cardiac sympathovagal balance in both aging and obese male rats by reducing systemic oxidative stress. The study involved 24 male Wistar rats divided into three groups to create aging and obesity models. FIN treatment reduced cardiac sympathovagal imbalance in both models and improved left ventricular (LV) function only in aging rats. These results suggest that FIN has cardioprotective potential in aging and obese populations, but it did not affect cardiac parameters in normal healthy rats.