The Biomolecular Effects of Finasteride on Male Rat Brain During Administration and After Discontinuation

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the biomolecular effects of finasteride on rat brain tissue during and after discontinuation. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four 14-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (finasteride-treated), and Group 3 (finasteride-withdrawn). Serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels were measured at the end of the study period. Brain tissues were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, with c-Fos employed as a non-specific biomarker of neural cellular activity.