ACTA NEUROPHARMACOLOGICA ›› 2016, Vol. 6 ›› Issue (2): 26-30.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-1396.2016.02.005

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Allopregnanolone as a New Therapeutic Target for Depression and Anxiety

JIANG Xiang-yun,SHANG Chao,LI Lei,SUN Shu-zheng,LI Yun-feng,WANG Heng-lin   

  1. 1. Department of Postgraduate,Hebei North University,Zhangjiakou,075000,China
    2. Department of Anesthesiology,Hospital 309 of Chinese People’s Liberation Army,Beijing,100091,China
    3. Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology,Academy of Military Medical Sciences,Beijing,100850,China
  • Online:2016-04-26 Published:2016-05-10
  • Contact: 李云峰,男,研究员;Tel:+86-010-66931619,E-mail:lyf619@aliyun.com 王恒林,男,副主任医师;E-mail:hlin309@sina.com
  • About author:蒋湘云,女,硕士研究生;研究方向:麻醉药理学;E-mail:15711293180@163.com 尚超,男,硕士研究生;研究方向:精神药理学;E-mail:shangchao1290@163.com
  • Supported by:

    国家自然科学基金项目(No.81173036、No.81001635、No.30973516),全军医学科技十二五面上项目(No.CWS12J084)

Abstract: Allopregnanolone-the neurosteroid is synthetized from cholesterol via TSPO mediated transfer from outer mitochondrial membrane to inner mitochondrial membrane. Recent study showed reduced level of neurosteroids represented by allopregnanolone were involved in the occurrence and development process of many mental disorders including anxiety and depression. Moreover,exogenous allopregnanolone treatment can significantly improve the anxious and depressive symptoms. The mechanisims underlying the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of allopregnanolone were considered mainly to be associated with its positive activation on GABAA receptor. In addition,allopregnanolone played an important role in regulating functions of HPA axis as well as stimulating neurogenesis. This review described the production process of allopregnanalone,its role in anxiety and depression and its possible mechanisms of treatment effects.

Key words: allopregnanolone, anxiety, depression, &, gamma, -aminobutyric acid A receptor, hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal axis, nerve regeneration

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