Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Androgen Receptor and Nerve Structure Density in Human Prepuce from Patients with Persistent Sexual Side Effects after Finasteride Use for Androgenetic Alopecia

June 2014 in “ PLOS ONE ”

Carla Di Loreto, Francesco La Marra, Giorgio Mazzon, Emanuele Belgrano, Carlo Trombetta, Sabina Cauci

finasteride androgenetic alopecia androgen receptor AR stromal cells epithelial cells serum testosterone dihydrotestosterone DHT Propecia male pattern baldness testosterone

Studysummary This study found that men with persistent sexual side effects after using finasteride for androgenetic alopecia had higher androgen receptor expression in certain tissues compared to those who never used the drug. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

Nine years ago, a study involving 8 male patients (aged 29–43 years) who reported persistent sexual side effects after discontinuing finasteride, a drug used for androgenetic alopecia, was conducted. These patients were compared to 11 healthy men (aged 23–49 years) who had never taken finasteride. The study found that the density of nuclear androgen receptor (AR) in stromal and epithelial cells was higher in the patient group than in the control group. The ratio of AR positive stromal cells % to serum testosterone concentrations was 2-fold higher in the patient group than in the control group. These findings suggested that modulation of local AR levels might be implicated in the long-term side effects of finasteride use. However, the study had limitations, including a small number of subjects and the inability to determine dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels.

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Long-Term Oral Administration of 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Attenuates Erectile Function by Inhibiting Autophagy and Promoting Apoptosis of Smooth Muscle Cells in Corpus Cavernosum of Aged Rats

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This study observed that androgenic alopecia patients taking finasteride had altered neuroactive steroid levels and persistent depression symptoms even after stopping the treatment.

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