4.2 Editorial Material

Neuroactive steroids: From basic research to clinical use

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Relating neurosteroid modulation of inhibitory neurotransmission to behaviour

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Development of neuroactive steroids for the treatment of postpartum depression

Handan Gunduz-Bruce et al.

Summary: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and serious condition that can impair maternal functioning and mother-infant attachment, affecting the emotional and cognitive development of children. While the exact pathophysiology is unclear, preclinical findings suggest that fluctuations in neurosteroid hormone levels may induce plasticity in GABA(A) receptors, potentially contributing to the manifestation of depressive symptoms. Controlled clinical trials have explored various pharmacological treatments for PPD, highlighting the potential of targeting GABAergic transmission with positive allosteric modulators as a novel therapeutic approach.

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Physiological markers of rapid antidepressant effects of allopregnanolone

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Therapeutic potential of pregnenolone and pregnenolone methyl ether on depressive and CDKL5 deficiency disorders: Focus on microtubule targeting

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Allopregnanolone: An overview on its synthesis and effects

Silvia Diviccaro et al.

Summary: The review discusses the synthesis of allopregnanolone in the nervous system, its physiological and neuroprotective effects, as well as its sex-dimorphic nature. Allopregnanolone's low bioavailability and extensive hepatic metabolism limit its use as a drug, leading to proposals for synthetic analogues or alternative therapeutic strategies to increase its levels.

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Sex neurosteroids: Hormones made by the brain for the brain

L. Fester et al.

Summary: Hippocampal neurons have the ability to synthesize sex steroids from cholesterol, with estradiol and testosterone playing important roles in maintaining synaptic transmission and connectivity. The synthesis of these steroids is regulated by internal and external factors, and there are sex-specific differences in how estradiol and dihydrotestosterone affect synaptic functions. The link between GnRH-induced estradiol synthesis and cyclical changes in spine density in the female hippocampus suggests a complex interaction between the hypothalamus and hippocampus in regulating neuronal responses to sex neurosteroids.

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Neuroactive steroids and the new decade

Giancarlo Panzica et al.

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Milestones on Steroids and the Nervous System: 10 Years of Basic and Translational Research

G. C. Panzica et al.

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