title: Is there a physiological role for the neurosteroid THDOC in stress-sensitive conditions?
abstract: Endogenous neurosteroids affect brain excitability during physiological states such as pregnancy and the menstrual cycle, and during conditions of acute and chronic stress. The neurosteroid allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) is an allosteric modulator of the GABA(A) receptor. Although the role of THDOC within the brain is undefined, recent studies indicate that stress induces THDOC to levels that can activate GABA(A) receptors. These results might have significant implications for human stress-sensitive conditions such as epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA. samba_reddy@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: Doodipala S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D006801:Humans; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; C009413:tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone