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Neurosteroid Actions

Meaning

The specific physiological and modulatory effects exerted by neurosteroids, which are steroid molecules synthesized de novo within the central and peripheral nervous systems from cholesterol or steroidal precursors, independent of the peripheral endocrine glands. These molecules, such as allopregnanolone and DHEA, act locally within the brain to rapidly modulate neuronal excitability, mood, cognition, and stress response. Their actions are distinct from classical steroid hormones because they often bind directly to neurotransmitter receptors, like GABA-A and NMDA receptors, rather than solely relying on genomic mechanisms. This localized, rapid signaling is essential for immediate neurobiological regulation.