Finasteride as a Positive Control in Reproduction Studies

January 2012

Ariadne Gutiérrez Martínez, Balia Pardo Acosta, Rafael Gámez Menéndez, Rosa Más Ferreiro, Haydeé García Cambián, Edy Goicochea Carrero

finasteride 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor androgen-dependent developmental alterations Propecia

TLDR Finasteride causes reproductive changes in male rats.

The study investigated the effects of finasteride, a 5 α-reductase inhibitor, on the reproductive development of male rats when administered to pregnant Sprague Dawley rats during the sexual differentiation period. Finasteride was given orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day from gestation days 12 to 21. The results showed significant differences in the treated group compared to controls, including delayed testicular descent, delayed preputial separation, feminized traits such as nipple retention (100%), preputial cleft (83.9%), and reduced anogenital distance (90.3%). Additionally, 6.5% of the offspring had ectopic testes. The study confirmed that finasteride induced androgen-dependent developmental alterations and supported its use as a positive control in reproductive studies.

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Research cited in this study

9 / 9 results

research Morphology of the Testis and the Epididymis in Rats with Dihydrotestosterone Deficiency

34 citations , January 2004 in “PubMed”

DHT deficiency in rats reduces sperm content and affects testis structure over time.

research The Long-Term Effect of Doxazosin, Finasteride, and Combination Therapy on the Clinical Progression of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

1707 citations , December 2003 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Combination therapy of doxazosin and finasteride safely and effectively reduces benign prostatic hyperplasia progression risk.

research Effects of In Utero Exposure to Finasteride on Androgen-Dependent Reproductive Development in Male Rats

118 citations , May 2003 in “Toxicological Sciences”

Exposure to finasteride in the womb caused lasting reproductive issues in male rats.

research Critical Developmental Periods for Effects on Male Rat Genitalia Induced by Finasteride, a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

86 citations , March 1993 in “Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology”

Finasteride affects male rat genitalia development, causing abnormalities during specific pregnancy days.

research The Effect of Finasteride in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

1040 citations , October 1992 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Finasteride effectively treats BPH but may increase sexual dysfunction risk.

research Decreased Fertility in Male Rats Administered the 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, Finasteride, Due to Deficits in Copulatory Plug Formation

37 citations , January 1991 in “Reproductive Toxicology”

Finasteride reduces male rat fertility by causing issues with copulatory plug formation.

research Reversible Decreases of Fertility in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats Treated Orally with Finasteride, a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

28 citations , January 1991 in “Reproductive Toxicology”

Finasteride temporarily lowers male rat fertility without affecting libido.

research External Genitalia Abnormalities in Male Rats Exposed In Utero to Finasteride, a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

122 citations , July 1990 in “Teratology”

Finasteride exposure in pregnancy causes genital abnormalities in male rats.

research Nipple Differentiation in Fetal Male Rats Treated with an Inhibitor of the Enzyme 5α-Reductase: Definition of a Selective Role for Dihydrotestosterone

53 citations , January 1986 in “Endocrinology”

Blocking a specific enzyme in male rat fetuses leads to the development of nipples and feminized genitalia.

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