Sex hormone metabolism in the brain: Influence of central acting drugs on 5.ALPHA.-reduction in rat diencephalon.

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Abstract
Rats were adrenalectomy-testectomy showed a gradual increase in diencephalon 3-oxo-5.alpha.-steroid: (acceptor) .DELTA.4-oxidoreductase (5.alpha.-reductase) activity for 3 days. The activity then returned near to the normal range on the 4th postoperative day. When rats were given testosterone propionate (TP) 3 days after adrenalectomy-testectomy, diencephalon 5.alpha.-reductase activity returned to the preoperative range 2 h after TP administration. Diencephalon 5.alpha.-reductase activity showed a highly significant increase (P < 0.01) after a single administration of carbamazepine, reserpine, diazepam, phenytoin, phenobarbital or disulfiram. A significant increase (P < 0.05) was also found after a single administration of methylphenidate, caffeine or methamphetamine. Plasma testosterone decreased concurrently after administration of all these agents, except diazepam. Diencephalon enzyme activity decreased significantly after repeated disulfiram administrations (P < 0.01) but increased significantly after methamphetamine administrations (P < 0.05). Plasma testosterone showed a tendency to decrease after repeated methamphetamine administrations but tended to increase after repeated disulfiram administrations.