TLDR Testosterone increases seizure risk through its conversion to specific neurosteroids.
The study investigated the role of testosterone in seizure susceptibility, focusing on its conversion to neurosteroids 3α-androstanediol (3α-Diol) and 17β-estradiol. It was found that testosterone decreased seizure thresholds and increased seizure severity in animal models, effects that were associated with elevated levels of these neurosteroids. The use of letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, and finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, demonstrated that blocking the conversion of testosterone to 17β-estradiol and 3α-Diol, respectively, reduced its proconvulsant effects. The study concluded that these testosterone-derived neurosteroids significantly influenced neural excitability and seizure susceptibility.
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September 2009 in “Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation” Low dose finasteride decreases certain steroids, possibly increasing depression risk.
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January 2004 in “Neuroscience” Testosterone increases seizure risk through its conversion to specific neurosteroids.
September 2002 in “Epiliepsy currents/Epilepsy currents” Stress increases neurosteroids that help prevent seizures.
269 citations
,
May 2002 in “Journal of Neuroscience” Stress increases neurosteroids that help prevent seizures.
48 citations
,
February 1999 in “PubMed” Finasteride, a drug, can block the seizure-preventing effects of a hormone called progesterone in mice.
