Targeting Neurosteroid Synthesis as a Therapy for Schizophrenia-Related Alterations Induced by Early Psychosocial Stress

May 2015 in “ Schizophrenia Research ”

Roberto Frau, Federico Abbiati, Valentina Bini, Alberto Casti, Donatella Caruso, Paola Devoto, Marco Bortolato

finasteride 5α-reductase inhibitor neurosteroid pregnenolone Propecia

Studysummary This study found that inhibiting the enzyme 5α-reductase with finasteride counteracted stress-induced prepulse inhibition deficits in socially isolated rats by altering neuroactive steroid concentrations in the brain.

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research Inhibition of 17α-Hydroxylase/C17,20 Lyase Reduces Gating Deficits Consequent to Dopaminergic Activation

19 citations , September 2013 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology”

Blocking CYP17A1 enzyme may help improve certain brain function issues related to dopamine.

research Inhibition Of 5α-Reductase Attenuates Behavioral Effects Of D1-, But Not D2-Like Receptor Agonists In C57BL/6 Mice

42 citations , August 2012 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology”

Finasteride reduces certain behaviors caused by D1-like receptor agonists but not by D2-like receptor agonists in mice.

research Finasteride Attenuates Pathological Gambling in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

35 citations , April 2012 in “Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology”

Finasteride reduces gambling symptoms in Parkinson's patients.

research Inhibition of 5α-Reductase in the Nucleus Accumbens Counters Sensorimotor Gating Deficits Induced by Dopaminergic Activation

53 citations , October 2011 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology”

Finasteride may help improve certain brain function issues linked to dopamine.

research A Preliminary Study of Finasteride in Tourette Syndrome

46 citations , May 2011 in “Movement Disorders”

This article contains additional supporting information available online but presents no new research findings.

research Isolation Rearing-Induced Reduction of Brain 5α-Reductase Expression: Relevance to Dopaminergic Impairments

48 citations , January 2011 in “Neuropharmacology”

Isolation stress in rats reduces brain enzyme levels, affecting dopamine function.

research Steroid 5α-Reductase as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Schizophrenia and Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders

72 citations , January 2011 in “Current Pharmaceutical Design”

This review discusses the potential role of steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors in treating neuropsychiatric disorders related to dopaminergic hyperreactivity but reports no new clinical results.

research Inhibition of Human Steroid 5β-Reductase (AKR1D1) by Finasteride and Structure of the Enzyme-Inhibitor Complex

47 citations , June 2009 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry”

This study found that finasteride competitively inhibits the enzyme AKR1D1 with low micromolar affinity but does not act as a mechanism-based inactivator.

research Improvement of General Symptoms in a Chronic Psychotic Patient Treated with Finasteride: Case Report

17 citations , May 2008 in “Pharmacopsychiatry”

Finasteride improved symptoms in a schizophrenia patient.

research Antipsychotic-Like Properties of 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors

64 citations , March 2008 in “Neuropsychopharmacology”

research Treatment of Tourette’s Syndrome With Finasteride

42 citations , December 2007 in “American Journal of Psychiatry”

This study examined finasteride, a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, for treating a Tourette’s syndrome patient unresponsive to traditional therapy, noting its limited side effects.

Mechanism-Based Inhibition of Human Steroid 5α-Reductase by Finasteride: Enzyme-Catalyzed Formation of NADP-Dihydrofinasteride, a Potent Bisubstrate Analog Inhibitor

research Mechanism-Based Inhibition of Human Steroid 5α-Reductase by Finasteride: Enzyme-Catalyzed Formation of NADP-Dihydrofinasteride, a Potent Bisubstrate Analog Inhibitor

136 citations , March 1996 in “Journal of the American Chemical Society”

This study explains finasteride's high potency and specificity as a mechanism-based inhibitor for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia by detailing its interaction with human type 2 steroid 5α-reductase.