Neuroactive steroids: State of the art and new perspectives |
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Authors: | R C Melcangi L M Garcia-Segura A G Mensah-Nyagan |
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Institution: | Department of Endocrinology and Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milano, Italy. roberto.melcangi@unimi.it |
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Abstract: | Neuroactive steroids include synthetic steroidal compounds and endogenous steroids, produced by endocrine glands (hormonal
steroids) or the nervous tissue (neurosteroids), which regulate neural functions. These steroids bind to nuclear receptors
or act through the activation of membrane-associated signaling pathways to modulate various important processes including
the development of the nervous system, neural plasticity and the adaptive responses of neurons and glial cells under pathological
conditions. Reviewed and updated in the present paper are the pleiotropic and protective abilities of neuroactive steroids.
The fundamental evidence and knowledge gained constitute a profound background that offers interesting possibilities for developing
effective strategies against several disorders of the nervous system.
Received 3 September 2007; received after revision 24 October 2007; accepted 29 October 2007 |
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Keywords: | Steroidogenesis neuroprotection neurosteroids myelin brain spinal cord mitochondria glia |
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