Identification, Biosynthesis, and Function of 7α-Hydroxypregnenolone, a New Key Neurosteroid Controlling Locomotor Activity, in Nonmammalian Vertebrates
It is now clearly established that steroids can be synthesized de novo by the brain and the peripheral nervous systems. Such steroids are called neurosteroids, and de novo neurosteroidogenesis from cholesterol is a conserved property of vertebrate brains. Our studies over the past decade have demons...
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Published in | Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Vol. 1163; no. 1; pp. 308 - 315 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Malden, USA
Blackwell Publishing Inc
01.04.2009
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | It is now clearly established that steroids can be synthesized de novo by the brain and the peripheral nervous systems. Such steroids are called neurosteroids, and de novo neurosteroidogenesis from cholesterol is a conserved property of vertebrate brains. Our studies over the past decade have demonstrated that the brain expresses several kinds of steroidogenic enzymes and produces a variety of neurosteroids in submammalian species. However, the biosynthetic pathway of neurosteroids in nonmammalian vertebrates as well as in mammals may be still incompletely mapped out. We recently found that the brain of newts and quail actively produces 7α‐hydroxypregnenolone, a novel bioactive neurosteroid, from pregnenolone. Interestingly, 7α‐hydroxypregnenolone stimulates locomotor activity by means of the dopaminergic system. Subsequently, we demonstrated that melatonin regulates synthesis of 7α‐hydroxypregnenolone, a key factor for induction of locomotor activity, thus inducing diurnal locomotor changes. |
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Bibliography: | ArticleID:NYAS04426 istex:20993A01A39CFD492AA902A82847CAD5680A9DA2 ark:/67375/WNG-PMP1F8BW-1 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0077-8923 1749-6632 1930-6547 |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04426.x |