Neurosteroids And Epileptogenesis In The Pilocarpine Model: Evidence For A Relationship Between P450scc Induction And Length Of The Latent Period

The study investigated the role of neurosteroids in epileptogenesis using the pilocarpine model of status epilepticus (SE) in rats. It focused on the induction of the enzyme P450scc, which is involved in neurosteroid biosynthesis, in various hippocampal glial cells. The results showed that SE led to increased P450scc induction in astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, particularly with longer SE durations. Interestingly, higher P450scc induction was linked to a delayed onset of spontaneous recurrent seizures. Conversely, inhibiting neurosteroid synthesis with finasteride accelerated seizure onset, but only in rats with significant P450scc induction. These findings suggested that neurosteroid synthesis in reactive glial cells might delay the onset of spontaneous seizures.