Early Postnatal Inhibition of Neurosteroid Synthesis Alters Later-Life Outcomes of Neonatal Asphyxia in Rats

The study examined the effects of finasteride, a neurosteroid synthesis inhibitor, on neonatal asphyxia in rats. Administered to 37 rat pups, finasteride reduced the severity and duration of neonatal seizures without increasing mortality. While it led to increased anxiety-like behavior in later life, it prevented cognitive impairments typically seen in asphyxia controls. The study found that finasteride altered long-term outcomes, such as neurodegeneration and mossy fiber sprouting, without causing cognitive deficits. These results suggest that neurosteroids have a complex role in neonatal asphyxia outcomes, challenging previous assumptions about their protective effects.