Neonatal Neurosteroid Levels Are Determinant in Shaping Adult Prepulse Inhibition Response to Hippocampal Allopregnanolone in Rats

The study investigated the effects of neonatal neurosteroid levels, specifically allopregnanolone (ALLO) and finasteride, on the development of the hippocampus and adult behavior in rats, with implications for neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia. Using 127 male Wistar rats, researchers found that neonatal treatments with ALLO or finasteride significantly altered hippocampal neurosteroid levels at postnatal day 9. These changes were linked to differences in adult behaviors, such as prepulse inhibition (PPI), which is a measure of sensorimotor gating and is often impaired in schizophrenia. The study highlighted the critical role of neonatal neurosteroid levels in shaping adult hippocampal function and related behaviors.