[Models for the study of memory and neurosteroids].
The steroids dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and pregnenolone sulfate (Preg-S) are naturally synthetized in the brain. They improve short term and long term memory performances in a variety of learning tasks and models of amnesia in rodents. DHEA-S and Preg-S modulate GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic transmission through direct interactions with GABA-A, NMDA and/or sigma 1 membrane receptors. In addition, these two neurosteroids facilitate the release of acetylcholine and modulate synaptic plasticity phenomena in cerebral structures, such as the hippocampus, known to play a role in learning and memory processes. The possible links between these actions and the promnestic effects of DHEA-S and Preg-S are discussed in the present review.
Mathis
C
C
Laboratoire d'Ethologie et de Neurobiologie, URA 1295 CNRS, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France. mathisc@currif.u-strasbg.fr
Meziane
H
H
Ungerer
A
A
D000647:Amnesia; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats
C018370:pregnenolone sulfate; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D011284:Pregnenolone