Neurosteroids as Endogenous Regulators of Seizure Susceptibility

The document explored the role of neurosteroids, particularly those derived from deoxycorticosterone (DOC), in modulating seizure susceptibility through their effects on GABAA receptors. Reddy and Rogawski demonstrated that stress-induced neurosteroids like THDOC and DHDOC, which are metabolites of DOC, enhanced GABAA receptor function and increased seizure thresholds in animal models. This suggested that these neurosteroids could counteract stress-related proconvulsant factors, although their effectiveness might be limited under high-stress conditions. The study by Wohlfarth, Bianchi, and Macdonald further examined how THDOC modulated GABAA receptor currents in recombinant systems, highlighting the potential for neurosteroids to alter inhibitory postsynaptic currents and suggesting a complex interaction with GABAA receptor subunits. Overall, these findings indicated that neurosteroids could play a significant role in the physiological response to stress and seizure regulation.