title: Changes in neuroactive steroid content during social isolation stress modulate GABAA receptor plasticity and function.
abstract: Rats deprived of social contact with other rats at a young age experience a form of prolonged stress that leads to long-lasting alteration in their behavior profile. This chronic stress paradigm is thus thought to be anxiogenic for these normally gregarious animals and their abnormal reactivity to environmental stimuli, when reared under this condition, is thought to be a product of prolonged stress. Neurochemical, molecular, and electrophysiological evidences demonstrate that social isolation is associated with alteration in the structure and function of GABA(A) receptors and suggest that endogenous content of the progesterone metabolite 3alpha,5alpha-TH PROG may be an important determinant in regulating brain excitability and sensitivity to stimuli and point out its possible role in psychiatric and neurological disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biology, Center of Excellence for the Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. mserra@unica.it
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Maria Giuseppina
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pisu
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mostallino
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biggio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012934:Social Isolation; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D013256:Steroids