J Korean Neurol Assoc.
2009 May;27(2):142-146.
The Effect of Androsterone as the Metabolite of Testosterone to Seizure Suppression
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. bilee@yuhs.ac
Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Androsterone is one of the major metabolites from testosterone whose clinical importance remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of androsterone on seizure susceptibility in mouse models of epilepsy.
METHODS
The efficacy of androsterone (10~200 mg/kg, i.p.) against seizures induced by various GABA receptor antagonists and glutamate receptor agonists was evaluated.
RESULTS
Androsterone protected mice against seizures induced by PTZ (pentylenetetrazol), PCX (picrotoxin), and DMCM (methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate) in a dose-dependent manner. Androsterone did not protect against seizures induced by kainic acid, NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid), or 4-AP (4-aminopyridine) in mice.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that androsterone exhibits anticonvulsant activity that occurs largely via nongenomic mechanisms. Testosterone-derived androsterone might be an endogenous protective neuroactive steroid in the brain.
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