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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Jul 19.
Published in final edited form as: Prog Brain Res. 2010;186:113–137. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-53630-3.00008-7

Table 1.

Pharmacological profile of major neurosteroids.

Neurosteroid Pharmacological Actions Mechanism of Action
Allopregnanolone Sedative-hypnotic
Anxiolytic, anticonvulsant
Antistress, neuroprotection		 Potentiation of GABA-A receptor function
THDOC Sedative-hypnotic
Anxiolytic, anticonvulsant
Antistress, neuroprotection		 Potentiation of GABA-A receptor function
Androstanediol Anxiolytic, anticonvulsant Potentiation of GABA-A receptor function
Pregnenolone sulfate Anxiogenic, proconvulsant
Memory enhancing, neuroprotection		 Inhibition of GABA-A receptor function
Enhanced NMDA receptor function
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate Anxiogenic, proconvulsant
Memory enhancing
Neurogenesis, neuroprotection		 Inhibition of GABA-A receptor function
Enhanced NMDA receptor function
Anti-glucocorticoid action