TLDR Finasteride given to baby rats reduces dopamine release and increases alcohol consumption in adult males.
Neonatal administration of finasteride, a drug used to treat hair loss, was found to increase alcohol consumption in adult male rats. The study showed that rats with neonatal finasteride administration had an increased adult ethanol consumption for several days of the alcohol consumption phase, and a decreased dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens in response to both ethanol and food. These findings suggest that neonatal neurosteroid alterations can affect alcohol rewarding properties and may have implications for the use of finasteride in humans, particularly in relation to substance abuse and addiction.
17 citations
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April 1997 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Finasteride effectively blocks rat enzymes, but with varying methods and strength.
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March 2020 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology” The enzymes 5α-reductase and 3α/β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase help create brain-active substances from progesterone and testosterone, which could be used for treatment, but more research is needed to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
