title: Neurosteroids in the brain of handling-habituated and naive rats: effect of CO2 inhalation.
abstract: In rats habituated to the manipulation that precedes killing (handling-habituated) the cerebral cortical concentrations of pregnenolone and progesterone were significantly lower (-57% and -69%, respectively) than in naive animals. An acute stress, induced by CO2 inhalation, elicited a marked increase in the concentrations of pregnenolone, progesterone and deoxycorticosterone in the brain cortex and hippocampus of handling-habituated rats. An accepted stress, such as foot shock, also enhanced the brain cortical levels of pregnenolone, progesterone and deoxycorticosterone in handling-habituated rats. These data show that the rat brain cortical and hippocampal steroid content is related to the 'emotional state' of the animal.
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Barbaccia
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Roscetti
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Trabucchi
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Cuccheddu
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Concas
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Biggio
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D004597:Electroshock; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D011284:Pregnenolone