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Neurosteroid Metabolites

Meaning

These are steroid compounds that are synthesized de novo within the central and peripheral nervous systems from cholesterol or steroidal precursors, or are peripheral steroid metabolites that cross the blood-brain barrier and exert rapid, non-genomic effects on neuronal function. Key examples include allopregnanolone and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC), which act as potent positive allosteric modulators of the GABAA receptor. Their clinical relevance lies in their role in modulating mood, anxiety, stress response, and cognitive function.