Description
Allopregnanolone (3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one or 3alpha,5alpha-tetrahydroprogesterone) is a prototypic neurosteroid present in the blood and also the brain. It is a metabolite of progesterone and potent modulator of GABAA receptors. While allopregnanolone, like other GABAA receptor active neurosteroids such as allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (3alpha,21-dihydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one; THDOC), positively modulates all GABAA receptor isoforms, those isoforms containing delta -subunits exhibit greater magnitude potentiation. Allopregnanolone has pharmacological properties similar to other positive modulators of GABAA receptors, including anxiolytic and anticonvulsant activity