Effect of testosterone and steroids homologues on indolamines and lipid peroxidation in rat brain

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 Mar;94(4):369-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.11.006. Epub 2005 Jan 28.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 4-pregnen-17-hydroxy-3-one (A) and two steroids homologues: 3beta-acetoxy-5,16-pregnadien-20-one (B) and 3beta-acetoxy-16alpha-17alpha-epoxy-4-pregnen-20-one (C). Male Wistar rats were treated with o-cresol combined (A, B or C) steroids. Lipid peroxidation status as result of measurement reactive substances to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) as well as serotonin (5-HT) and its precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) were measured. The prostate glands were weighed, the 5alpha-reductase activity was determined. The animals treated with A, B, and C steroids showed a slight increase in both 5alpha-reductase activity and prostate size. 5-HT and 5-HTP levels did not change significantly, and TBARS showed an increase in the group treated with B steroid and a decrease in the A steroid group with significant differences in both groups (p<0.05) versus control group. Results suggest that A steroid reduces TBARS in rat brain, perhaps as a result of the interaction between the testosterone unsaturated carbons and OH(-) groups with free radicals.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • 5-Hydroxytryptophan / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase / metabolism
  • Cresols / pharmacology
  • Hydroxyprogesterones / pharmacology*
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Organ Size
  • Pregnenediones / pharmacology*
  • Prostate / drug effects
  • Prostate / metabolism
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Testosterone / pharmacology*
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / analysis

Substances

  • 3-acetoxypregna-5,16-diene-20-one
  • Cresols
  • Hydroxyprogesterones
  • Pregnenediones
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • 17-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3-one
  • Serotonin
  • Testosterone
  • 5-Hydroxytryptophan
  • Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase
  • 2-cresol