In Brief:
Finasteride, a 5a-reductase inhibitor, administration before trauma decreased inflammatory cytokines production, neutrophil infiltration, pulmonary edema, and 5a-dihydrotestosterone but increased plasma 17ß-estradiol after trauma-hemorrhage. The beneficial effects of finasteride were abrogated by coadministration of ICI 182,780, indicating that the salutary effects of this agent are mediated via the estrogen receptors.