Rat Steroid 5α-Reductase Kinetic Characteristics: Extreme pH-Dependency of the Type II Isozyme in Prostate and Epididymis Homogenates

    August 1995 in “ The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ”
    Paul N. Span, A. G. H. Smals, Fred C.G.J. Sweep, Th. J. Benraad
    Image of study
    TLDR The activity of a specific rat enzyme in the prostate and epididymis is highly dependent on the acidity level.
    In the 1995 study, researchers found that the activity of rat steroid 5α-reductase type II isozyme in prostate and epididymis homogenates was highly pH-dependent. The optimal pH for the enzyme varied with substrate concentration, with pH 5.0 being optimal at high substrate concentrations and pH 5.5 at lower concentrations. The maximum efficiency (Vmax/Km) occurred at pH 5.5 for both tissues. The study highlighted that the enzyme's activity is non-linear at acidic pH unless the homogenate is pre-adjusted to the desired pH, and that the discrepancies in literature regarding 5α-reductase characteristics could be due to variations in pH during assays. The extreme pH-dependency of the type II isozyme's kinetic characteristics could explain the variations in reported enzyme activity.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    2 / 2 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 533 results
      FCE 28260: A Forgotten 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

      community FCE 28260: A Forgotten 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

      in Research  330 upvotes 6 months ago
      FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.

      community Why does it seem everyone favors finasteride over dutasteride?

      in Female  62 upvotes 9 months ago
      The conversation discusses preferences for hair loss treatments, specifically finasteride over dutasteride. Users share personal experiences, cost considerations, FDA approval status, and potential side effects, with some switching between treatments to find what works best for them.

      community Proof that finasteride messes with neurosteroids

      in Research/Science  230 upvotes 7 months ago
      Finasteride can impact neurosteroids, potentially causing depression and other side effects in some users. Despite these concerns, many continue using it for hair loss, with some switching to topical applications to mitigate side effects.
      If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      community If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      in Research  830 upvotes 6 months ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results