Increased neurosteroids synthesis after brain and spinal cord injury in rats

Citation
F. Di Michele et al., Increased neurosteroids synthesis after brain and spinal cord injury in rats, NEUROSCI L, 284(1-2), 2000, pp. 65-68
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
ISSN journal
03043940 → ACNP
Volume
284
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
65 - 68
Database
ISI
SICI code
0304-3940(20000421)284:1-2<65:INSABA>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
We studied the effect of brain and spinal cord injury induced by fluid-perc ussion on the local synthesis of neurosteroids as measured by a gas-chromat ographic/mass-spectrometric method. In the nervous system of sham operated rats i.v. infusion of pregnenolone (PREGN)-sulfate results in a 2-4 fold in crease in PREGN, progesterone (PROG), 5alpha-dehydroprogesterone (5 alpha-D HP) and 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha 5 alpha-THP, allopreg nanolone) concentrations, as compared to vehicle treated rats. When PREGN-s ulfate was infused 1,3 or 7 days after brain or spinal cord injury it was o bserved a large time-dependent increase of FROG, 5 alpha-DHP and 3 alpha 5 alpha-THP levels in the peri-focal but not in the focal site. This increase in neurosteroids content may be due essentially to the glial cells hyperpl asia in the peri-focal area and to an activation of the pathways involved i n the metabolism of PREGN-sulfate to FROG, 5 alpha-DHP and 3 alpha 5 alpha- THP. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.