What is the Origin of Hippocampal Pregnenolone Sulfate?

The term combines the anatomical location, the 'hippocampus,' with the specific neurochemical, 'pregnenolone sulfate,' highlighting its unique localized synthesis and action within the central nervous system. Its origin is within the field of neuroendocrinology, establishing that the brain is not merely a target for peripheral hormones but is an active steroidogenic organ itself. This discovery fundamentally changed the understanding of steroid action in the brain.

What is the Mechanism of Hippocampal Pregnenolone Sulfate?

Pregnenolone sulfate exerts its function by influencing the excitability of hippocampal neurons. By enhancing NMDA receptor activity, it facilitates long-term potentiation (LTP), the cellular mechanism underlying learning and memory. Simultaneously, its inhibitory effect on GABAA receptors contributes to the overall excitatory tone necessary for cognitive processing. The local synthesis mechanism allows for rapid, precise, and independent modulation of neuronal function in response to specific neural activity.

Hippocampal Pregnenolone Sulfate ∞ Area

Hippocampal Pregnenolone Sulfate

Meaning

Hippocampal Pregnenolone Sulfate (PregS) is a crucial neurosteroid, a derivative of cholesterol, that is synthesized de novo within the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory formation and spatial navigation. This sulfated form of pregnenolone is known for its potent neuroregulatory actions, acting as a positive allosteric modulator of the NMDA receptor and a negative allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor. Its local concentration in the hippocampus is vital for modulating synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation.