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Effect of finasteride on behavioural arousal and somatosensory evoked potentials in fetal sheep.
- Source :
-
Neuroscience letters [Neurosci Lett] 2001 Jun 22; Vol. 306 (1-2), pp. 13-6. - Publication Year :
- 2001
-
Abstract
- This study examines the effect of inhibiting the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA(A)) agonist steroids on behavioural activity and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) in late gestation fetuses. Pregnane steroid production was suppressed by infusion of the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride in chronically catheterised fetal sheep, 130-135 days gestation. Finasteride treatment (160 mg in 10 ml of vehicle over 2 h) significantly increased the incidence of fetal arousal during the period 4-10 h after commencing the infusion (P<0.05, n=6), whereas other behavioural parameters were not effected. In three of four animals, finasteride produced an increase in the amplitude of the N22 peak of the SEP during high voltage electrocortical activity. We conclude that suppression of pregnane steroid synthesis, by inhibition of the 5alpha-reductase enzyme, increases arousal activity in the fetus which is consistent with a reduction in GABA(A) receptor mediated inhibition.
- Subjects :
- 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase metabolism
5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors
Animals
Arousal physiology
Brain cytology
Brain drug effects
Brain enzymology
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory physiology
Female
Fetus metabolism
Neural Inhibition drug effects
Neural Inhibition physiology
Neurons drug effects
Neurons enzymology
Pregnancy
Pregnanes antagonists & inhibitors
Pregnanes metabolism
Receptors, GABA-A metabolism
Sheep
Steroids biosynthesis
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid metabolism
Arousal drug effects
Enzyme Inhibitors pharmacology
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory drug effects
Fetus drug effects
Finasteride pharmacology
Receptors, GABA-A drug effects
Steroids antagonists & inhibitors
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0304-3940
- Volume :
- 306
- Issue :
- 1-2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Neuroscience letters
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 11403946
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3940(01)01861-4