Data Sheet 1_Pharmacologically altered androgens, brain activation and response inhibition in a stop-signal task in male heavy drinkers.pdf

Previous studies indicated an influence of testosterone (T) on AUD, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was linked to alcohol consumption, impulsivity, and response inhibition. As the role of androgens in AUD and the modulation thereof is not fully understood, this study investigated the effect of a pharmacological reduction in DHT by inhibition of the 5-alpha reductase II with finasteride on brain activation and response inhibition during a stop signal task.

Fifty males with HED participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, cross-over, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. Participants received either 5 mg finasteride or placebo, resulting in a 9.6% reduction of DHT levels. Full factorial fMRI models and linear mixed models were used to estimate whole-brain effects of DHT and testosterone following finasteride and placebo on neural correlates of behavioral control (N = 47 analyzable participants).