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Previous Volume 330:120-125 January 13, 1994 Number 2 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Testosterone, the principal circulating androgen, acts directly in many tissues. To be active in the prostate and skin, testosterone must be converted to dihydrotestosterone by the enzyme 5-reductase (Figure 1). Most dihydrotestosterone in the prostate arises from testicular precursors, although some arises from adrenal precursors¹. In women, although the relative ovarian and adrenal contributions to intracellular dihydrotestosterone are unknown, the two organs contribute equally to testosterone production². Finasteride is one of several inhibitors of 5-reductase that have recently been developed. These drugs selectively block dihydrotestosterone production and androgen action in the prostate and skin. . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Congenital 5-Reductase Deficiency

5-Reductase

Development of 5-Reductase Inhibitors

Pharmacologic and Physiologic Characteristics of Finasteride

Effects of Finasteride on Serum and Prostatic Androgen Concentrations

Castration as Compared with 5-Reductase Inhibition

Effects of 5-Reductase Inhibition on Reproductive Organs

Treatment of Prostate Disease with 5-Reductase Inhibitors

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Androgen Suppression in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia with Finasteride

Side Effects

Finasteride and Prostate Cancer

Dermatologic Uses of 5-Reductase Inhibitors

Hirsutism and Male-Pattern Baldness

Acne

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Rm. 809, Gerard Hall, 5303 Morris St., Halifax, NS B3J 1B6, Canada, where reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Rittmaster.

References

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