88 citations
,
January 2004 in “Journal of Neuroscience” Neurosteroids regulate synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord and may help manage spinal pain.
26 citations
,
July 2012 in “Epilepsy & Behavior” Finasteride worsens seizures in epilepsy rats and speeds up epileptogenesis in mice.
123 citations
,
May 2009 in “Journal of Neuroscience” In late pregnancy, allopregnanolone reduces stress responses in rats by affecting brain chemicals.
110 citations
,
August 2015 in “Neuropsychopharmacology” High-dose dutasteride reduces PMDD symptoms by stabilizing neurosteroid levels.
1 citations
,
January 2015 in “Der pharmacia lettre” Neurosteroids help protect the brain and improve behavior after a stroke in mice.
6 citations
,
January 2020 in “BMC Neuroscience” Male tissue has more cell death than female tissue after ischemia, and some neurosteroids only protect female cells.
13 citations
,
January 2020 in “Neuroscience” Blocking 5α-reductase can harm memory and brain structure, and increase harmful brain changes in male mice used for Alzheimer's disease research.
12 citations
,
April 2018 in “Physiology & Behavior” Finasteride raises suicide-linked aggression and stops clozapine's positive effects in schizophrenia animals.
21 citations
,
January 2020 in “General and Comparative Endocrinology” Lack or blocking of SRD5a, a key component in hormone creation, can lead to conditions like pseudohermaphrodism and affect hair growth, bone mass, muscle strength, and reproductive health. More research is needed on its regulation from fertilization to adulthood.
1 citations
,
August 2015 in “Current Sexual Health Reports” 5α-reductase inhibitors can cause serious and possibly lasting sexual and psychological side effects.
19 citations
,
December 2019 in “Steroids” Finasteride and dutasteride reduce neurosteroid production, possibly helping treat glioblastoma.
4 citations
,
November 2018 in “Journal of pharmacological sciences” Mild exercise reduces pain in older rats through a brain chemical, while intense exercise reduces pain in all rats through a different pain-blocking process.
June 2024 in “Georgetown medical review” Finasteride treats hair loss but may cause low libido, erectile issues, and depression.
19 citations
,
July 2005 in “Steroids” Testosterone increases 3α-androstanediol levels, which can be blocked by finasteride.
July 2020 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” The structure of SRD5A reveals how it reduces steroids, aiding drug design for related health conditions.
3 citations
,
May 2016 in “Behavioural Brain Research” Finasteride given to baby rats reduces dopamine release and increases alcohol consumption in adult males.
82 citations
,
July 2011 in “Journal of Neuroscience” Ethanol boosts brain steroid production by activating NMDA receptors, affecting memory formation.
54 citations
,
August 2005 in “Alcohol” Finasteride affects alcohol intake in male mice, possibly due to neurosteroids.
59 citations
,
November 2018 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Lower levels of certain brain chemicals are linked to worse PTSD symptoms in men.
31 citations
,
November 2014 in “Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science” A natural steroid in the body may protect against eye damage in glaucoma.
27 citations
,
January 2017 in “Neuropsychopharmacology” The enzyme 5α-reductase is key in causing psychotic-like effects from sleep deprivation.
19 citations
,
January 2012 in “Frontiers in Neural Circuits” Neurosteroids and benzodiazepines reduce neuron excitability, with lasting effects on inhibitory neurons.
May 2025 in “Neuropharmacology” Finasteride reduced seizures and prevented cognitive issues in rats after neonatal asphyxia but increased anxiety later.
20 citations
,
January 2018 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Safety” Personalized treatment with inhibitors, minoxidil, and laser therapy helps hair loss.
2 citations
,
February 2003 in “Annals of Neurology” Neuroimaging suggests that treatments targeting brain steroids could help control epilepsy, especially types linked to the menstrual cycle.
February 2026 in “NeuroSci” Finasteride and dutasteride may cause depression and anxiety, especially in younger men.
November 2012 in “Endocrine Practice” Enzymes called 5α-reductases have many body functions and need more research to safely use inhibitors.
March 2025 in “Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism” Rodent models of PCOS show some hormone changes similar to humans, but also have key differences.
63 citations
,
January 2010 in “Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience” 3α-androstanediol helps reduce age-related cognitive and mood declines in male rats, unlike testosterone.
2 citations
,
March 2023 in “Experimental neurology” Pregnenolone might help manage movement issues caused by Parkinson's disease treatment without reducing the medicine's effectiveness.