Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026
Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
Published on: January 7, 2019
Dihydrotestosterone and Finasteride Effects on Alcohol Cue-Elicited Brain Activity in Males With Heavy Episodic
Rafat Boroumand-Jazi1, Sabine Hoffmann1,2,3, Iris Reinhard2
1Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Abstract:
Preliminary animal and human studies have shown that blood dihydrotestosterone concentrations are increased in males with alcohol use disorder, and 5α-reductase inhibitors, which decrease dihydrotestosterone concentrations, reduce alcohol consumption. To gain mechanistic insight, we studied the effects of reduced dihydrotestosterone concentrations following pharmacological 5α-reductase inhibition on alcohol cue-elicited brain activity and alcohol craving in males with problematic alcohol use. To this end, this randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover challenge experiment investigated associations between dihydrotestosterone concentrations and brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activity during exposure to visual alcohol cues and alcohol craving following a single dose of 5 mg finasteride versus placebo in 50 males with heavy episodic drinking. We used finasteride because it specifically inhibits 5α-reductase II activity, which is the main enzyme converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone concentrations were lower in the finasteride condition in comparison to the placebo condition, but not significantly associated with brain activation patterns or craving. In the exploratory analyses, we found higher brain activity during exposure to visual stimuli in the right and left caudate nuclei, the right superior frontal gyrus and the left insula in the finasteride condition versus the placebo condition. Moreover, finasteride versus placebo was associated with a higher wish to not drink alcohol. The results of this experimental study do not support the à priori hypothesis that dihydrotestosterone concentrations play a role in brain activation during exposure to visual alcohol cues, but indicate that finasteride effects may be mediated by other pathways. Future studies are requested to investigate the effects of reduced dihydrotestosterone concentrations over a longer time and to shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the here observed effects of finasteride. Trial Registration: DRKS00020569.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Non-Verbal Cues
01:23Infertility in Males
02:37Oxidation of Alcohols
The process of oxidation in a chemical reaction is observed in any of the three forms:
02:19The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size....
01:20Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra....
02:29Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.