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Sex-dimorphic changes in neuroactive steroid levels after chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Authors :
Donato Calabrese
Marzia Pesaresi
G. D’Intino
Roberto Cosimo Melcangi
Omar Maschi
Donatella Caruso
Laura Calzà
Silvia Giatti
Luis-Miguel Garcia-Segura
Source :
Journal of Neurochemistry. 114:921-932
Publication Year :
2010
Publisher :
Wiley, 2010.

Abstract

Our previous observations have shown that neuroactive steroid levels in the brain are affected by acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) with sex and regional specificity (Giatti et al. 2010). To better understand the effect of EAE on neuroactive steroids, we have here assessed the levels of pregnenolone, progesterone and its derivatives (i.e. dihydroprogesterone, tetrahydroprogesterone and isopregnanolone), testosterone and its derivatives (dihydrotestosterone and 5alpha-androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol) in different CNS regions of male and female rats affected by chronic EAE. Data obtained by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry revealed that chronic EAE results in sex and regional specific alterations in the levels of neuroactive steroids in the brain, which are in many cases different to those produced by acute EAE. The specific changes in neuroactive steroid levels after chronic EAE may be of relevance to design new possible therapeutic strategies for the disease.

Details

ISSN :
00223042
Volume :
114
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Neurochemistry
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........bdbe95efa08da7ff88a789c1775eee85