**2.3 Disparate effects and mechanisms of androgens may be meaningful**

Some men use treatments, such as finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, to manipulate trophic effects of androgens (e.g. alopecia, benign prostatic hyperplasia) and to reduce side effects of synthetic androgens. There can be long-term effects of such treatment. Finasteride use has been linked to sexual dysfunctions and mental side effects, including depression, even months after its use is discontinued ("Postfinasteride Syndrome") [2–4]. The individual differences in response to androgens, as well as their manipulations, are not understood but will be discussed herein. Foci will be on androgen receptor-independent effects and mechanisms (estrogen receptor β- ERβ; brain derived neurotrophic factor- BDNF) of 5α-reductase manipulations and the T metabolite (3α-diol) for driving trophic effects in the brain that may be parsed from such effects in peripheral targets (prostate) (**Figure 3**).
