The endocrine nervous system: source and target for neuroactive steroids.
For a long time the endocrine brain was considered to the hypothalamus and to its special relationships with the hypophysis. The discovery of the wide distribution of steroid hormone receptors, as well as that of the possibility of metabolizing or synthesizing steroids by neural cells (neuroactive steroids), suggest, on the contrary, that interactions among steroids and nervous system are key points of the regulatory processes in the central and peripheral nervous system in normal conditions as well as in pathological conditions. In this brief overview we illustrate a few examples of these relationships with major emphasis on papers collected in this special issue.
Panzica
G C
GC
Department of Anatomy, Pharmacology and Forensic Medicine and Neuroscience Institute of Turin, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, University of Torino, C.so M. D'Azeglio 52, 10126 Torino, Italy. giancarlo.panzica@unito.it
Melcangi
R C
RC
D000818:Animals; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*
D006728:Hormones; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents