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| Neuroactive steroids (or neurosteroids) rapidly alter neuronal
excitability through interaction with neurotransmitter-gated ion
channels. In addition, these steroids may also exert effects on
gene expression via intracellular steroid hormone receptors.
Neurosteroids have a wide range of applications from sedation to
treatment of epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. Apart from
exerting effects on the genome via intracellular steroid
receptors, neuroactive steroids rapidly alter neuronal
excitability through interaction with neurotransmitter-gated ion
channels. Several of these steroids accumulate in the brain
after local synthesis or after metabolism of adrenal steroids.
The 3alpha-hydroxy ring A-reduced pregnane steroids
allopregnanolone and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone have been
surmised to enhance GABA-mediated chloride currents, whereas
pregnenolone sulfate and dehydroepiandrostero