Sandbox 45673: Difference between revisions

Finasteride is a synthetic 4-azasteroid compound that acts as a 5α-reductase inhibitor.<ref name="one"> I.K. Morton; Judith M. Hall (6 December 2012). Concise Dictionary of Pharmacological Agents: Properties and Synonyms. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 121, 246. ISBN 978-94-011-4439-1 </ref>The 5α-reductase enzyme is very important in the metabolism of many of the steroids produced by the body, in particular the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT)<ref name="one"> I.K. Morton; Judith M. Hall (6 December 2012). Concise Dictionary of Pharmacological Agents: Properties and Synonyms. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 121, 246. ISBN 978-94-011-4439-1 </ref>. For this reason, Finasteride is used as a treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), which is caused by an overproduction of DHT in the male prostate <ref name="two"> Yamana K, Labrie F, Luu-The V (January 2010). Human type 3 5α-reductase is expressed in peripheral tissues at higher levels than types 1 and 2 and its activity is potently inhibited by finasteride and dutasteride. Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation. 2 (3). doi:10.1515/hmbci.2010.035 </ref>. Pattern hair loss, another condition in men, caused by the build up of DHT, can also be treated with Finasteride <ref name="three">  Varothai, S; Bergfeld, WF (Jul 2014). "Androgenetic alopecia: an evidence-based treatment update.". American journal of clinical dermatology. 15 (3): 217–30. doi:10.1007/s40257-014-0077-5. PMID 24848508 </ref>. Finasteride's affinity for 5α-reductase approaches testosterone's, and can bind to two of the three isoenzymes of 5α-reductase, types I and II. <ref name="two"> Yamana K, Labrie F, Luu-The V (January 2010). Human type 3 5α-reductase is expressed in peripheral tissues at higher levels than types 1 and 2 and its activity is potently inhibited by finasteride and dutasteride. Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation. 2 (3). doi:10.1515/hmbci.2010.035 </ref>.