Antioxidant enzyme expression of mRNA and protein in the epididymis of finasteride-treated male rat offspring during postnatal development

We verify whether finasteride had a transgenerational effect on the epididymal expression of antioxidant enzymes, and the correlation between these enzymes and blood androgen concentrations in male offspring (F1:Fin) of females fertilized by finasteride-treated male rats. The expression of CAT, SOD1, GPX5, GR on the mRNA and protein levels was evaluated in the epididymis at postnatal day (PND) 7, 14, 21, 28 and 90. Levels of T and DHT were correlated with mRNA levels of enzymes by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. A change in the levels of transcripts was noted in F1:Fin rats: CAT decreased at PND 28 ( < 0.01) and increased at PND 90 ( < 0.01); SOD1 increased at PND 7 ( < 0.0001), 21 ( < 0.001), 90 ( < 0.0001) and decreased at 14 PND ( < 0.01); GPX5 increased at PND 14 and 21 ( < 0.0001); GR decreased at PND 21 and 28 ( < 0.0001). Altered immunolocalization of enzymes within the epididymal epithelium was observed. Negative correlations between GPX5 mRNA with androgens (T, = 0.0002; DHT, = 0.0009) were visible in the control rats, and positive correlation between DHT and CAT mRNA ( = 0.03), in opposite to F1:Fin group were was negative for both androgens (T, = 0.044 and DHT, = 0.02). Finasteride treatment of adult male rats may cause changes in antioxidant defense system in the epididymis of their offspring, leading to improper ROS concentrations that can affect post-testicular sperm maturation.