Therapeutic potential of steroids for CNS disorders

The importance of steroids for modulation of the CNS is now better understo od but it is still in its infancy compared with the knowledge that has been accumulated on their endocrine effects. The structural diversity of steroi ds that exert CNS activity is broad and they modulate their effects, not on ly via classical steroid receptors (oestrogen, androgen, progestin, glucoco rticoid and mineralocorticoid) but also via ion channels, particularly GABA A receptors and glutamate (NMDA) receptors. This review illustrates the the rapeutic potential of steroids for treatment of CNS disorders by covering p ublications and patent literature since 1995.