The enzyme 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha-R) activates several delta 4-3keto steroids to more potent derivatives which may also acquire new biological actions. Testosterone gives rise to the most potent natural androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and progesterone to dihydroprogesterone (DHP), a precursor of the endogenous anxiolytic/anesthetic steroid tetrahydroprogesterone (THP). Two isoforms of 5 alpha-R, with a limited degree of homology, different biochemical properties and distinct tissue distribution have been cloned: 5 alpha-R type 1 and type 2. In androgen-dependent structures DHT is almost exclusively formed by 5 alpha-R type 2; 5 alpha-R type 1 is widely distributed in the body, with the highest levels in the liver, and may be involved in steroid catabolism. In the brain, the roles of the two isozymes are still largely unknown. This brief review will summarize recent experimental data from our laboratory which try to assign possible functional roles to the process of 5 alpha-reduction, and to the two 5 alpha-R isoforms in the CNS.

5 alpha-reductase isozymes in the central nervous system / A. Poletti, A. Coscarella, P. Negri-Cesi, A. Colciago, F. Celotti, L. Martini. - In: STEROIDS. - ISSN 0039-128X. - 63:5-6(1998), pp. 246-251. ((Intervento presentato al convegno Proceedings of the HSGSH Congress tenutosi a Roma nel 1997.

5 alpha-reductase isozymes in the central nervous system

A. Poletti
Primo
;
P. Negri-Cesi;A. Colciago;F. Celotti
Penultimo
;
L. Martini
1998

Abstract

The enzyme 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha-R) activates several delta 4-3keto steroids to more potent derivatives which may also acquire new biological actions. Testosterone gives rise to the most potent natural androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and progesterone to dihydroprogesterone (DHP), a precursor of the endogenous anxiolytic/anesthetic steroid tetrahydroprogesterone (THP). Two isoforms of 5 alpha-R, with a limited degree of homology, different biochemical properties and distinct tissue distribution have been cloned: 5 alpha-R type 1 and type 2. In androgen-dependent structures DHT is almost exclusively formed by 5 alpha-R type 2; 5 alpha-R type 1 is widely distributed in the body, with the highest levels in the liver, and may be involved in steroid catabolism. In the brain, the roles of the two isozymes are still largely unknown. This brief review will summarize recent experimental data from our laboratory which try to assign possible functional roles to the process of 5 alpha-reduction, and to the two 5 alpha-R isoforms in the CNS.
5α-reductase; Flutamide; Neurons; Rat brain; Testosterone
Settore MED/04 - Patologia Generale
Settore BIO/09 - Fisiologia
Settore BIO/13 - Biologia Applicata
1998
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Steroids 1998.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 115.56 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
115.56 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/181778
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 17
  • Scopus 86
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 76
social impact