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

The study investigated the role of neurosteroidogenic enzymes in sensorimotor gating, specifically focusing on the enzyme 17α-hydroxylase/C17,20 lyase (CYP17A1) in Sprague-Dawley rats. The researchers found that the selective CYP17A1 inhibitor abiraterone (ABI) dose-dependently reversed prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits induced by the dopaminergic agonist apomorphine (APO), similar to the effects of the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride. This effect was observed with both systemic and intracerebroventricular administration of ABI, indicating the involvement of brain CYP17A1 in PPI regulation. The study concluded that CYP17A1 could be a novel target for antipsychotic-like action, suggesting that androgenic neurosteroids modulate dopaminergic regulation of PPI through mechanisms unrelated to androgen receptors.