Inhibition of brain 5 alpha-reductase in pregnant rats: effects on enzymatic and behavioral activity.
Medial basal hypothalamic (MBH) 5 alpha-reductase activity was significantly blocked with a known inhibitor, Proscar (Finasteride), in pregnant rats while their open-field behavior was quantified during the last week of pregnancy. In control animals, open-field behavior significantly decreased (in a stair-step fashion) as a function of increasing gestational age. Conversely, in Proscar-treated animals open-field values significantly increased on day 15 and 17 of gestation compared to control values. These data indicate that inhibition of MBH 5 alpha-reductase during pregnancy significantly increased open-field activity levels during late gestation in rats and provides evidence for a link between the production of 5 alpha-reduced metabolites of progesterone in brain and behavioral activity during pregnancy.
Lephart
E D
ED
Department of Zoology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. edlephar@acd1.byu.edu
Ladle
D R
DR
Jacobson
N A
NA
Rhees
R W
RW
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018120:Finasteride