Synthetic neurosteroids on brain protection

• Published in: Neural regeneration research Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 17 - 21
• Main Authors: Rey, Mariana, Coirini, Héctor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 2015; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental IBYME-C0NICET, Vuelta de 0bligado 2490, C1428ADN Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: allopregnanolone; synthetic steroids; GABA A receptor; neuroprotection; cerebral cortex; hippocampus; Brain; Dehydrogenases; Enzymes; GABA; Hypoxia; Invited Review; Ischemia; Metabolites; Nervous system; Oxidative stress; Physiological aspects; Steroid hormones; Steroids; Traumatic brain injury; 保护; 内源性; 合成; 大脑; 孕烯醇酮; 生物利用度; 神经甾体; China; cerebral cortex; allopregnanolone; hippocampus; synthetic steroids; GABAA receptor; neuroprotection
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.150640

Neurosteroids, like allopregnanolone and pregnanolone, are endogenous regulators of neuronal excitability. Inside the brain, they are highly selective and potent modulators of GABAA receptor activity. Their anticonvulsant, anesthetics and anxiolytic properties are useful for the treatments of several neurological and psychiatric disorders via reducing the risks of side effects obtained with the commercial drugs. The principal disadvantages of endogenous neurosteroids adminis- tration are their rapid metabolism and their low oral bioavailability. Synthetic steroids analogues with major stability or endogenous neurosteroids stimulation synthesis might constitute prom- ising novel strategies for the treatment of several disorders. Numerous studies indicate that the 3ct-hydroxyl configuration is the key for binding and activity, but modifications in the steroid nucleus may emphasize different pharmacophores. So far, several synthetic steroids have been developed with successful neurosteroid-like effects. In this work, we summarize the properties of various synthetic steroids probed in trials throughout the analysis of several neurosteroids-like actions.