Propecia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Propecia, including details on baldness, hair loss, side-effects, results.

Palmitoylethanolamide stimulation induces allopregnanolone synthesis in C6 cells and primary astrocytes: involvement of peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor-α.

Raso GM, Esposito E, Vitiello S, Iacono A, Santoro A, D'Agostino G, Sasso O, Russo R, Piazza PV, Calignano A, Meli R

Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, 80131, Italy Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, 98100, Italy INSERM U862, Institut F. Magendie, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) regulates many pathophysiological processes in the CNS, including pain perception, convulsions, and neurotoxicity and increasing evidence points to its neuroprotective action. Here, we report that PEA, acting as a ligand of peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-α, might regulate neurosteroidogenesis in astrocytes, which, as other glial cells and neurons, have the enzymatic machinery for neurosteroid de novo synthesis. For this aim, we used C6 glioma cell line and primary murine astrocytes. In mitochondrial fraction from cells stimulated with PEA, we showed a significant increase in the inactive form of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and of the cytochrome P450 enzyme (P450scc) expression, both proteins considered crucial steps for neurosteroid formation. PEA effects were completely blunted by GW6471, a selective PPAR-α antagonist, or by PPAR-α silencing by RNA interference. Accordingly, allopregnanolone levels were increased in supernatant of PEA-treated astrocytes, as revealed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and this effect was inhibited by GW6471. Moreover, PEA showed a protective effect, reducing malondialdehyde formation in cells treated with L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine, a glutathione depletor, and interestingly PEA effect was partially inhibited by finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor. A similar profile of activity was evidenced by ALLO and the lack of additive effect with PEA suggests that the reduction of oxidative stress by PEA is mediated through ALLO synthesis. This study provides evidence indicating the involvement of the saturated acylethanolamide PEA in ALLO synthesis trough PPAR-α in astrocytes and explores the antioxidative activity of this molecule, confirming its homeostatic and protective role both in physiological and pathological conditions.

Published 10 May 2011 in J Neuroendocrinol.
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Articles on Propecia published 10 May 2011:

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A 47-year-old man who had been using finasteride for male pattern alopecia for 4 years complained of progressive bilateral blurring of vision. His general health had been good, and he was not on any other long-term medication. Examination showed bilateral anterior subcapsular cataracts. Phacoemulsification and insertion of intraocular lenses were performed, and both eyes showed features of intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome (IFIS), including undulation and billowing of the iris, iris prolapse, ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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Finasteride is a synthetic 4-azasteroid compound that acts by inhibiting type II 5α-reductase, the enzyme that converts the androgen testosterone to 5α-dihydrotestosterone. It was approved by the US FDA for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and male pattern baldness. Here the acylation product of Finasteride C-18 amide N-polimod was synthesized by employing acylation reaction with polimod amide as a pivotal intermediate. The structure of the key intermediate and target molecule ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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[Abstract] [Full-text]

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Sphaeranthus indicus Attenuates Testosterone induced Prostatic Hypertrophy in Albino Rats.   Phytother Res.

The present study reports the attenuating effect of Sphaeranthus indicus extracts (SI) on prostatic hyperplasia induced by testosterone in albino rats. In vitro studies were conducted to assess the 5α-reductase inhibitory potential of the petroleum ether, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of SI. A biochemical marker, β-sitosterol, was isolated and extracts were characterized utilizing HPTLC. Testosterone (3 mg/kg s.c.) was administered to the rats along with the test extracts and isolated ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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