The Interaction Between Finasteride and Corticosterone Levels: Implications for Depression and Anxiety-Like Behavior and Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity in Male Rats

This study examined the effects of chronic finasteride administration on depression- and anxiety-like behavior and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in male rats over 21 days. Finasteride induced depression-like behavior in the sucrose preference test and anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze, with a modest decrease in hippocampal long-term potentiation. Plasma corticosterone levels increased after 6 days but normalized after 14 and 21 days. The study concludes that chronic finasteride administration does not robustly induce depression- and anxiety-like behavior, possibly due to adaptive responses in corticosterone levels, highlighting the complex interactions between finasteride, stress hormones, and brain function.