Treatment of male rats with finasteride, an inhibitor of 5alpha-reductase enzyme, induces long-lasting effects on depressive-like behavior, hippocampal neurogenesis, neuroinflammation and gut microbiota composition

Neuroactive steroids are those steroids that modulate the function of the nervous system. They are important physiological neuromodulators and include steroids synthesized in the peripheral glands as well as those directly produced by the nervous tissue. Neuroactive steroids are involved in the neuroendocrine control of reproduction and regulate synaptic plasticity, neuronal and glial morphology, adult neurogenesis, myelination and cognition (Galea, 2008; Melcangi et al., 2016). Accordingly, psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are associated with altered levels of neuroactive steroids, and particularly of 5 α-reduced metabolites of testosterone and progesterone, in plasma and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (Backstrom et al., 2014; Schule et al., 2014).
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research