Sex-specific therapeutic strategies based on neuroactive steroids: In search for innovative tools for neuroprotection.
Different pathologies of the central and peripheral nervous system show sex differences in their incidence, symptomatology and/or neurodegenerative outcome. These include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, stroke, autism, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and peripheral neuropathy. These sex differences reveal the need for sex-specific neuroprotective strategies. This review article and other manuscripts published in this issue of Hormones and Behavior analyze possible sex-specific therapeutic strategies based on neuroactive steroids. In particular in our introductory article, the possibility that sex differences in the levels or in the action of neuroactive steroids may represent causative factors for sex differences in the incidence or manifestation of pathologies of the nervous system is considered.
Cosimo Melcangi
Roberto
R
Department of Endocrinology, Pathophysiology and Applied Biology, Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milano, Italy. roberto.melcangi@unimi.it
Garcia-Segura
Luis Miguel
LM
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013256:Steroids