Therapeutic Effect of Finasteride Through Its Antiandrogenic and Antioxidant Role in a Propionic Acid-Induced Autism Model: Demonstrated by Behavioral Tests, Histological Findings and MR Spectroscopy

April 2022 in “ Neuroscience Letters ”

Ibrahim Halil Sever, Bahattin Özkul, M F Bozkurt, Oytun Erbaş

finasteride antiandrogenic antioxidant Nrf2 pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α IL-17A neuroinflammation mitochondrial dysfunction Propecia

TLDR Finasteride may help treat autism by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of finasteride in a propionic acid-induced autism model in rats. The research demonstrated that finasteride, known for its antiandrogenic and antioxidant properties, significantly improved behavioral abnormalities and biochemical markers associated with autism. Specifically, finasteride treatment increased Nrf2 levels and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-17A, which were elevated in the placebo group. Histopathological analysis and MR spectroscopy supported these findings, showing reduced neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in treated rats. The study suggests that finasteride could be a potential therapeutic agent for autism spectrum disorders due to its dual role in modulating androgen levels and oxidative stress.

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Research cited in this study

3 / 3 results

research Physiological and Histological Study of the Effect of Finasteride Drug (Prostacare) on the Fertility of Albino Male Rats

5 citations, January 2018 in “Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology”

Finasteride significantly reduces fertility in male rats.

research Influence of Dosing Time on the Efficacy and Safety of Finasteride in Rats

8 citations, August 2011 in “Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics”

Dosing time affects finasteride's effectiveness and safety in rats.

research Androgenic Activity in Autism

76 citations, November 1997 in “The American journal of psychiatry”

Some autistic children may have higher levels of male hormones, which could be linked to aggression.

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research Effect of Finasteride, a 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor, on Serum Gonadotropins in Normal Men

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Finasteride doesn't affect hormone levels in normal men.