The immediate and maintained effects of neurosteroids on GABAA receptors

Allopregnanolone is an endogenous neurosteroid that acts in a rapid non-genomic manner to enhance the function of GABAA receptor (GABAAR), major inhibitory mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Consequently, allopregnanolone elicits anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, analgesic and sedative effects. Endogenous influences neural inhibition behaviour, with perturbed levels implicated depressive disorders. The approval brexanolone (an formulation) treat postpartum depression (PPD) has encouraged optimism they may provide new approach mood Elucidating how neurosteroids are distinguished from established GABAAR-active drugs, e.g. benzodiazepines, improve understanding disorders aid drug development for psychiatric conditions. Here, we focus on research highlighting: (1) acute interaction GABAARs incorporating ? subunit (?-GABAAR) (2) additionally act slower time scale expression ?-GABAARs, thereby providing sustained therapeutic benefit.