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Neurosteroid Synthesis

Meaning

Neurosteroid Synthesis is the critical biochemical process wherein steroid hormones are locally manufactured de novo within the central and peripheral nervous systems by glial cells and neurons, independent of the classical endocrine glands like the adrenals or gonads. These locally produced steroids, such as allopregnanolone and DHEA, act rapidly and non-genomically to modulate neurotransmitter receptor activity, influence synaptic plasticity, and promote neural repair. This local synthesis is vital for regulating mood, cognition, sleep patterns, and neuroendocrine resilience, providing a rapid, localized mechanism for adapting to neural and environmental changes.