Chonnam Med J.  2005 Apr;41(1):72-81.

The Effects of Finasteride on Pituitary-Testicular Hormone Axis and Spermatogenesis in Rat

• Na GJ
• Hwang IS
• Oh KJ
• Kim KW
• Kang TW
• Kwon DD
• Park KS
• Ryu SB
• Park YI

Abstract

The purpose of this study were to investigate the effect of 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, on spermatogenesis and pituitary-testicular hormone axis in rats. Finasteride, 1.0 mg/kg/day, was given orally in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats for 20 week with control rats were given water only. From 6 randomly selected seminiferous tubules per subject, the mean number of mature spermatids, Sertoli cells, tubular diameter and tubular wall thickness were determined. Measurements of hormones were done with radioimmunoassay. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent t-test were performed. Treatment with the finasteride had no apparent effect on spermatid, Sertoli cell, and spermatid to Sertoli cell ratio per tubule. No significant differences of tubular wall thickness and diameter were noted between control and finasteride-treated group. Testosterone levels in the serum and testis tended to increase in finasteride-treated group, but there was no statistical significance. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in testis tended to decrease but no statistical signigficance from the control group was noted, except at 4 weeks. Serum levles of FSH and LH did not differ in both groups These results suggest that finasteride has no deleterious significant effects on spermatogenesis and pituitary-testicular hormone axis in rats.

Keyword

Spermatogenesis; Finasteride; 5alpha-reductase inhibitor

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Axis, Cervical Vertebra*
Dihydrotestosterone
Finasteride*
Humans
Male
Radioimmunoassay
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Seminiferous Tubules
Sertoli Cells
Spermatids
Spermatogenesis*
Testis
Testosterone
Water
Dihydrotestosterone
Finasteride
Testosterone
Water