Treatment of Male Rats with Finasteride, an Inhibitor of 5alpha-Reductase Enzyme, Induces Long-Lasting Effects on Depressive-Like Behavior, Hippocampal Neurogenesis, Neuroinflammation, and Gut Microbiota Composition
January 2019
in “
Psychoneuroendocrinology
”
finasteride 5alpha-reductase enzyme GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes TNF-a neuroinflammation gut microbiota Bacteroidetes Prevotellaceae Ruminococcaceae Oscillospira Lachnospira neuroactive steroid 5a-R inhibition Propecia 5-alpha reductase astrocytes tumor necrosis factor alpha gut bacteria steroids 5-alpha reductase inhibition
TLDR Finasteride treatment in male rats causes long-lasting effects on depression-like behavior, brain cell growth, inflammation, and gut bacteria composition.
A study on male rats found that treatment with finasteride, an inhibitor of the 5alpha-reductase enzyme, led to long-lasting effects on depressive-like behavior, hippocampal neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, and gut microbiota composition. The treatment increased the number of GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes and the levels of TNF-a, a proinflammatory cytokine, which may contribute to long-term depressive-like behavior. Additionally, the treatment affected the gut microbiota, with an increase in Bacteroidetes phylum and Prevotellaceae family, and a decrease in Ruminococcaceae family, Oscillospira, and Lachnospira genus. The study suggests that changes in plasma neuroactive steroid levels caused by 5a-R inhibition in male rats are responsible for the gut microbiota modulation observed.
