J. Garcia-estrada et al., Dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnenolone and sex steroids down-regulate reactive astroglia in the male rat brain after a penetrating brain injury, INT J DEV N, 17(2), 1999, pp. 145-151
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE
Astrocytes are a target for steroid hormones and for steroids produced by t
he nervous system (neurosteroids). The effect of gonadal hormones and sever
al neurosteroids in the formation of gliotic tissue has been assessed in ad
ult male rats after a penetrating wound of the cerebral cortex and the hipp
ocampal formation. The hormones testosterone, 17 beta-estradiol and progest
erone and the neurosteroids dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnenolone and pregne
nolone sulfate resulted in a significant decrease in the accumulation of as
trocytes in the proximity of the wound and in a decreased bromodeoxyuridine
incorporation in reactive astrocytes. Of all steroids tested, dehydroepian
drosterone was the most potent inhibitor of gliotic tissue formation. These
findings suggest that neurosteroids and sex steroids may affect brain repa
ir by down-regulating gliotic tissue. (C) 1999 ISDN. Published by Elsevier
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