Abstract:

Introduction: Discontinuation of finasteride in some patients induces depression like symptoms known as post-finasteride-syndrome. Finasteride inhibits 5α-Reductase-2 (5AR2) indicating it may be a diagnostic biomarker in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods: We delivered AAV containing plasmid expressing shRNAs against 5AR2 enzyme in the medial prefrontal cortex of Long Evans rats to knock-down 5AR2 function. We then assessed performance Porsolt forced swim test, defensive withdrawal test, bridge test, and open field locomotion tests against a control group. inactivity of 5ard is the biomarker, we found that 5ar2 is reduced in certain regions in MDD, might become a biomarker in future studies

Results: Rats who were administered with the shRNA plasmid were more immobile in Porsolt forced swim test, were more immobile in the defensive withdrawal test, took longer to reach the bridge, and were more immobile in overall performance. All of these behaviors are in line with depressive like symptoms

Conclusions: When rats were depleted of 5AR2, behaviors similar to depressed patients emerged.