Neuroactive steroids: mechanisms of action and neuropsychopharmacological perspectives

Steroids influence neuronal function by binding to intracellular receptors that can act as transcription factors and regulate gene expression. In addi tion, some so-called 'neuroactive steroids' are potent modulators of an arr ay of ligand-gated ion channels and of distinct G-protein coupled receptors via nongenomic mechanisms, and they can influence sleep and memory. This a rticle describes how these neuroactive steroids modulate neurotransmitter r eceptors and addresses the neuropsychopharmacological potential that arises from the intracellular crosstalk between genomic and nongenomic steroid ef fects. Neuroactive steroids could also have a role in the response to stres s and the treatment of psychiatric disorders, such as depression, and, as t hey affect a broad spectrum of behavioral functions through their unique mo lecular properties, they could constitute a yet unexploited class of drugs.