TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurosteroid biosynthesis
T2 - Enzymatic pathways and neuroendocrine regulation by neurotransmitters and neuropeptides
AU - Do Rego, Jean Luc
AU - Seong, Jae Young
AU - Burel, Delphine
AU - Leprince, Jerôme
AU - Luu-The, Van
AU - Tsutsui, Kazuyoshi
AU - Tonon, Marie Christine
AU - Pelletier, Georges
AU - Vaudry, Hubert
PY - 2009/8
Y1 - 2009/8
N2 - Neuroactive steroids synthesized in neuronal tissue, referred to as neurosteroids, are implicated in proliferation, differentiation, activity and survival of nerve cells. Neurosteroids are also involved in the control of a number of behavioral, neuroendocrine and metabolic processes such as regulation of food intake, locomotor activity, sexual activity, aggressiveness, anxiety, depression, body temperature and blood pressure. In this article, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the existence, neuroanatomical distribution and biological activity of the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of neurosteroids in the brain of vertebrates, and we review the neuronal mechanisms that control the activity of these enzymes. The observation that the activity of key steroidogenic enzymes is finely tuned by various neurotransmitters and neuropeptides strongly suggests that some of the central effects of these neuromodulators may be mediated via the regulation of neurosteroid production.
AB - Neuroactive steroids synthesized in neuronal tissue, referred to as neurosteroids, are implicated in proliferation, differentiation, activity and survival of nerve cells. Neurosteroids are also involved in the control of a number of behavioral, neuroendocrine and metabolic processes such as regulation of food intake, locomotor activity, sexual activity, aggressiveness, anxiety, depression, body temperature and blood pressure. In this article, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the existence, neuroanatomical distribution and biological activity of the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of neurosteroids in the brain of vertebrates, and we review the neuronal mechanisms that control the activity of these enzymes. The observation that the activity of key steroidogenic enzymes is finely tuned by various neurotransmitters and neuropeptides strongly suggests that some of the central effects of these neuromodulators may be mediated via the regulation of neurosteroid production.
KW - Biological activities
KW - Central nervous system
KW - Neuroanatomical distribution
KW - Neuropeptides
KW - Neurosteroids
KW - Neurotransmitters
KW - Regulation
KW - Steroidogenic enzymes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67849097168&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67849097168&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.05.006
DO - 10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.05.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 19505496
AN - SCOPUS:67849097168
SN - 0091-3022
VL - 30
SP - 259
EP - 301
JO - Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology
JF - Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology
IS - 3
ER -