finasteride, Propecia
Inhibition of the activity of 'basic' 5 alpha-reductase (type 1) detected in DU 145 cells and expressed in insect cells.

Delos S, Iehle C, Martin PM, Raynaud JP.

Laboratoire de Cancerologie Experimentale, Faculte de Medecine, Secteur Nord, Marseille, France.

The purpose of this study was 2-fold: (1) to identify the 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha-R) isozyme(s) present in DU 145 cells, a human cell-line of low androgen sensitivity derived from a cerebral metastasis of an epithelial prostate cancer; and (2) to compare the inhibitory potencies of three compounds on the 'basic' 5 alpha-R isozyme expressed in a baculovirus-directed insect cell system. Conversion of testosterone (T) into 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in DU 145 cells was measured by HPLC coupled to a Flo-one HP radioactivity detector. DU 145 cells exhibited 5 alpha-R activity (21 pmol DHT/min/mg protein) at pH 7.4 which disappeared at pH 5.5 suggesting that, of the two genomically distinct human isozymes identified so far, type 1 5 alpha-R is expressed in DU 145 cells. This was confirmed by at least two observations: first, 5 alpha-R activity in DU 145 cells was inhibited with much higher potency by 4-MA than by finasteride which is known to be a very poor competitor of the 'basic' enzyme (IC50s = 2.8 +/- 0.2 and 264 +/- 55 nM, respectively). Second, only the type 1 5 alpha-R cDNA and not type 2 5 alpha-R cDNA hybridized with DU 145 RNA. A high potency differential was also recorded for the inhibition of 'basic' type 1 5 alpha-R expressed in a baculovirus-directed-insect cell system by these two compounds, 4-MA being considerably more active than finasteride (Ki = 8.4 +/- 2.3 and 330 +/- 9 nM, respectively). This inhibition was competitive. On the other hand, inhibition by an n-hexane lipid/sterol extract of Serenoa repens (LSESr) was non-competitive and, when expressed in terms of recommended therapeutic doses, was 3-fold greater for LSESr than for finasteride. These studies suggest that LSESr might exert a regulatory inhibitory activity due to its specific lipid/sterol composition.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8142312&dopt=Abstract finasteride Propecia



finasteride, Propecia
In vitro biotransformation of finasteride in rat hepatic microsomes. Isolation and characterization of metabolites.

Ishii Y, Mukoyama H, Ohtawa M.

Drug Metabolism, Development Research Laboratories, Banyu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan.

Metabolism of finasteride ([N-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-oxo-4-aza-5 alpha-androst-1-ene-17 beta- carboxamide]; MK-906), a new type of specific inhibitor of testosterone 5 alpha-reductase, was investigated using rat hepatic microsomes. The metabolism of finasteride by rat hepatic microsomes was oxygen- and NADPH-dependent, and addition of metyrapone, 7,8-benzoflavone, and cytochrome c to the incubation mixture inhibited the metabolism of finasteride. It is suggested that the metabolic reaction of finasteride was mediated by a mixed function oxidase involving P-450. Four major metabolites were detected in vitro on incubating finasteride with hepatic microsomes of rats treated with phenobarbital (PB-Ms), whereas two major metabolites were found in the incubation mixture with microsomes of untreated rats (UT-Ms). These metabolites were isolated and purified by solvent extraction and semi-preparative HPLC, and identified by MS spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. The metabolites consisted of omega-hydroxy finasteride (M-1), finasteride-omega-al (M-2), finasteride-omega-oic acid (M-3), and 6 alpha-OH finasteride (M-4). M-1 and M-4 are the major metabolites in UT-Ms, and M-1 and M-3 in PB-Ms. These studies revealed that hydroxylation of the t-butyl group and ring hydroxylation at the 6-position were key steps in the metabolism of finasteride in the rat hepatic microsomes. Further, the major metabolite M-4 was hydroxylated at the 6 alpha-position, but not at the 6 beta-position of the drug. This finding suggests the existence of a novel enzyme that catalyzes the 6 alpha-hydroxylation of the 4-azasteroid.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8149894&dopt=Abstract finasteride Propecia



finasteride, Propecia
Altered brain and pituitary androgen metabolism by prenatal, perinatal or pre- and postnatal finasteride, flutamide or dihydrotestosterone treatment in juvenile male rats.

Lephart ED, Husmann DA.

Cecil H. & Ida Green Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

1. The authors investigated the administration of finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor; flutamide, an androgen receptor blocker and; exogenous dihydrotestosterone (DHT) during intervals covering different portions of the "critical period" of neural development (i.e. prenatal, perinatal or pre- and postnatal development) to determine the long-term effects of these agents on altering androgen metabolism in hypothalamic and pituitary tissue of juvenile (30 day-old) male rats. 2. The efficacy of the treatments and hypothalamic-pituitary axis function was monitored by measuring luteinizing hormone levels by radioimmunoassay. 5 alpha-Reductase and aromatase activity was determined in hypothalamic and pituitary tissue. 3. Significant alterations in pituitary 5 alpha-reductase activity was detected in DHT-treated animals, whereas, hypothalamic 5 alpha-reductase activity was significantly decreased by finasteride treatment and significantly increased by DHT treatment. Hypothalamic aromatase activity was significantly decreased in flutamide-treated animals. 4. These results suggest that: a) prenatal exposure to exogenous DHT stimulates hypothalamic (but inhibits pituitary) 5 alpha-reductase activity long-term and b) basal 5 alpha-reductase activity levels can be inhibited by finasteride treatment in hypothalamic but not in pituitary tissue, suggesting that a different regulatory mechanism exists for 5 alpha-reductase in hypothalamic versus pituitary tissue.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8278608&dopt=Abstract finasteride Propecia



finasteride, Propecia
Effects of chronic oral administration of a selective 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, on the dog prostate.

Laroque PA, Prahalada S, Gordon LR, Noblot SM, Bagdon WJ, Duprat P, Peter CP, Van Zwieten MJ.

Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486.

Young mature dogs received finasteride, a selective 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, orally at 0, 5, 15, and 45 mg/kg/day for 27 or 53 weeks. The effect of finasteride administration on prostatic size and morphology was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Changes in glandular and fibromuscular compartments were quantitated by a point counting method on trichrome-stained sections. Finasteride administration induced a decrease of mean prostatic weights and epithelial atrophy in all treated groups. No changes in testicular weights and morphology were observed. The greatest prostatic shrinkage was obtained in the group receiving 45 mg/kg/day for 53 weeks; compared to placebo controls, the percent decreases in absolute volumes occupied by epithelium, lumens, fibrovascular stroma, and smooth muscle were 88, 97, 51 and 72, respectively. These results clearly demonstrate that prostatic shrinkage following finasteride administration results from a decrease in both glandular and fibromuscular compartments.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8309848&dopt=Abstract finasteride Propecia



finasteride, Propecia
The androgen control of sebum production. Studies of subjects with dihydrotestosterone deficiency and complete androgen insensitivity.

Imperato-McGinley J, Gautier T, Cai LQ, Yee B, Epstein J, Pochi P.

Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York 10021.

To evaluate the androgen control of sebum, subjects with complete androgen insensitivity and male pseudohermaphrodites with inherited 5 alpha-reductase deficiency and decreased dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production had sebum production studied. A hydrophobic polymeric film applied to the forehead was used to measure sebum production through the use of air filled micropores. Sebum scores of normal preadrenarchal children (ages 2-6), and normal age-matched adult males and females, were studied as well as males treated with the 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, for benign prostatic hyperplasia who were studied at baseline and after drug therapy. Androgen insensitive subjects had no sebum production by this methodology, and the results were identical to preadrenarchal children. In contrast, adult male pseudohermaphrodites with 5 alpha-reductase deficiency and a selective decrease in DHT production had sebum production scores identical to normal age-matched males. Males with benign prostatic hyperplasia treated with the 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, to lower DHT levels did not decrease the sebum score from baseline values. The lack of demonstrable sebum in androgen-insensitive subjects clearly demonstrates the absolute androgen control of sebum production. The DHT dependency of the sebaceous gland, however, could not be demonstrated in this study. Two 5 alpha-reductase isoenzymes 1 and 2, have been described. 5 alpha-reductase-2 is the gene responsible for inherited 5 alpha-reductase deficiency. Although the degree of inhibition of DHT in utero and in adulthood in male pseudohermaphrodites with a defect in 5 alpha-reductase-2 enzyme activity caused severe impairment of external genital and prostate differentiation and decreased facial and body hair, it had no demonstrable effect on sebaceous gland development or function. Furthermore, lowering DHT levels in adulthood had no effect on sebum production. If the gland is rich in the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase-2, it is proposed that the sebaceous gland is either exquisitely sensitive to DHT, requiring only small amounts for normal development and function, or that male levels of testosterone compensate for DHT and maintain normal sebaceous gland activity throughout life. It is also possible that 5 alpha-reductase-1 is the enzyme of the sebaceous gland and is unaffected in the inherited condition and by finasteride.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8381804&dopt=Abstract finasteride Propecia



finasteride, Propecia
Critical developmental periods for effects on male rat genitalia induced by finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor.

Clark RL, Anderson CA, Prahalada S, Robertson RT, Lochry EA, Leonard YM, Stevens JL, Hoberman AM.

Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania.

The conversion of testosterone to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone by the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase is inhibited by finasteride. In a study in which maternal dosing with finasteride commenced on Gestational Day 15 and terminated on Postpartum Day 21, there were 13 and 27% decreases in anogenital distance of male pups on Postnatal Day 1 at 0.03 and 3 mg/kg/day, respectively. These decreases were largely reversed by Postnatal Day 22 even though treatment of the dams continued. Treatment at 3 mg/kg/day also resulted in hypospadias with cleft prepuce and a 5-day delay in the separation of the prepuce from the glans penis in those animals without hypospadias. A second study in which 20 mg/kg/day finasteride was administered on successive 2-day periods during late gestation in rats demonstrated that the period of Gestational Days 16 to 17 was the most sensitive (critical period) for finasteride-induced hypospadias, cleft prepuce, decreased anogenital distance, reduced prostate weight, and nipple formation in F1 male offspring. This critical period is just prior to the appearance on Day 18 of gestation of a midline mesenchymal plate between the urogenital sinus and the rectum in normal male fetuses. This midline plate does not appear in finasteride-exposed fetuses destined to have hypospadias as demonstrated in a previous study. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that finasteride causes hypospadias by preventing the formation of the medial mesenchymal plate which is necessary for assisting the movement of the urogenital sinus from the base to the tip of the genital tubercle.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8385814&dopt=Abstract finasteride Propecia