FIGURE 3.

Mouse NSW models of catamenial epilepsy. (A) In the exogenous protocol, progesterone was administered twice daily for 7 d, and finasteride was administered on the final day, resulting in NSW. Data collections were done 24 h after induction of withdrawal (day 8). The resulting plasma levels of AP were estimated at day 8 in mice following treatment with vehicle (β-cyclodextrin solution), progesterone (P), and P + finasteride (NSW). Each bar represents the mean ± SEM (n = 6 mice per group). *p < 0.01 vs. vehicle; #p < 0.01 vs. P-treatment group (Adapted from Carver et al., 2014). (B) In the gonadotropin-based protocol, fully kindled mice were treated with pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin (PMSG, 5 IU, s.c.) at 3 PM followed 48 h later human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG, 5 IU, s.c.) at 1 PM. Then, on day 9 they were given finasteride (50 mg/kg, i.p.). Plasma AP levels were estimated in mice following treatment with gonadotropins and finasteride (50 mg/kg, i.p.) paradigm for induction of neurosteroid withdrawal (NSW). The dramatic decline in neurosteroid levels 24 h after finasteride would create a state of NSW (Adapted from Reddy et al., 2012).