title: DHEA, PREG and their sulphate derivatives on plasma and brain after CRH and ACTH administration.
abstract: The term neurosteroids applies to steroids that are synthesized in the nervous system, either de novo from cholesterol or from steroid hormone precursors. RIA was used to determine plasma and brain levels of the neurosteroids pregnenolone (PREG), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and their sulfate derivatives (PREG-S and DHEA-S) in male and female rats after administration of two typical stress hormones: corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH). In all cases, the parameters measured were detectable in plasma and brain. PREG, PREG-S, and DHEA increased significantly in plasma and brain after CRH and ACTH administration in males and females. Because neurosteroids play an important role in mammalian physiology, including that of humans, stress situations may alter the physiological functions regulated by these neurosteroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortega
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: C018370:pregnenolone sulfate; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D011284:Pregnenolone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone