TLDR Inhibiting certain enzymes made female rats more sensitive to low-level pain.
The study investigated the effects of inhibiting 5alpha-reductase and aromatase on formalin-induced tonic pain (FITP) in female rats. It was found that pretreatment with these inhibitors made the rats more sensitive to pain at low formalin concentrations (0.25%), but not at higher concentrations (2.5%), suggesting a saturation effect at higher doses. The study highlighted the role of neuroactive steroids in pain processing and suggested that inhibiting steroidogenic enzymes could influence pain perception. The findings indicated that the nervous system, rather than peripheral sources like the ovaries, was the main target of enzyme inhibition, potentially opening new avenues for pain management strategies.
26 citations
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September 2005 in “Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior” 5alpha-reductase 2 is crucial for proper male brain development and sexual differentiation.
88 citations
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January 2004 in “Journal of Neuroscience” Neurosteroids regulate synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord and may help manage spinal pain.
49 citations
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January 2004 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology/The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology” Selective non-steroidal inhibitors of 5α-reductase type 1 can help treat DHT-related disorders.
11 citations
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October 2002 in “Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior” Formalin-induced pain increases testosterone breakdown in the rat brain and spinal cord.
72 citations
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January 2011 in “Current Pharmaceutical Design” S5αR inhibitors might help treat schizophrenia and other mental disorders but need more research.
10 citations
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May 2018 in “Neuropharmacology” Drugs for hormone-related conditions might help treat mental disorders but could have serious side effects.
19 citations
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December 2019 in “Steroids” Finasteride and dutasteride reduce neurosteroid production, possibly helping treat glioblastoma.
33 citations
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December 2015 in “Neuroendocrinology” Finasteride treatment changes brain steroid levels and receptors, affecting brain function even after stopping treatment.
61 citations
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April 2018 in “Frontiers in endocrinology” Sex steroids produced in the hippocampus are crucial for brain functions like memory and learning in rodents.
