title: Effect of the neuroactive steroid alpha-THDOC on staircase test behavior in mice.
abstract: This study examined the effect of the neuroactive steroid 3 alpha, 5 alpha-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (alpha-THDOC) as compared to the benzodiazepines diazepam and midazolam and the barbiturate phenobarbital on the number of rearing events and the number of steps ascended in the mouse staircase test. The benzodiazepines, phenobarbital and alpha-THDOC all reduced rearing activity at doses that did not affect climbing. The rearing-suppression effect of the benzodiazepines and alpha-THDOC, but not of phenobarbital, was blocked by the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil. It appears that, although such neuroactive steroids, like barbiturates, bind to distinct sites within the chloride ion channel of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor complex, alpha-THDOC behavioral activity is modulated by the benzodiazepine recognition site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Pick
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Terkel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gavish
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weizman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018757:GABA Modulators; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; C009413:tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone; D003975:Diazepam; D010634:Phenobarbital