TY - JOUR
T1 - Are neuroactive steroids promising therapeutic agents in the management of acute and chronic pain?
AU - Jevtovic-Todorovic, Vesna
AU - Covey, Douglas F.
AU - Todorovic, Slobodan M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Our research is supported by Dr. Harold Carron's endowment (to V.J-T.), NIH R0-1 grant GM075229 (to S.M.T), NIH P0-1 grant GM47969 (to D.F.C.) and funds from Department of Anesthesiology (to V.J-T. and S.M.T.). V.J-T is an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association.
PY - 2009/12
Y1 - 2009/12
N2 - Neuroactive steroids with potentiating effects on GABAA channels and inhibitory effects on T-type Ca2+ channels which are located in peripheral sensory neurons are potent modulators of pain perception. The focus of this review is on peripheral anti-nociceptive properties of 5α- and 5β-reduced neuroactive steroids with either selective or combined modulatory action on GABAA and T-type Ca2+ channel-mediated neurotransmission. We report that these neuroactive steroids are very effective in alleviating peripheral nociception in both acute and chronic pain conditions in animal models of pain. We believe that promising animal data warrant the exploration of their usefulness in clinical settings especially considering the fact that chronic pain sufferers are often young and otherwise healthy people.
AB - Neuroactive steroids with potentiating effects on GABAA channels and inhibitory effects on T-type Ca2+ channels which are located in peripheral sensory neurons are potent modulators of pain perception. The focus of this review is on peripheral anti-nociceptive properties of 5α- and 5β-reduced neuroactive steroids with either selective or combined modulatory action on GABAA and T-type Ca2+ channel-mediated neurotransmission. We report that these neuroactive steroids are very effective in alleviating peripheral nociception in both acute and chronic pain conditions in animal models of pain. We believe that promising animal data warrant the exploration of their usefulness in clinical settings especially considering the fact that chronic pain sufferers are often young and otherwise healthy people.
KW - 5 α-Reduced neuroactive steroids
KW - 5 β-Reduced neuroactive steroids
KW - GABA channels
KW - Peripheral nociception
KW - T-type calcium channels
KW - Thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=71249138908&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.06.001
DO - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.06.001
M3 - Review article
C2 - 19577375
AN - SCOPUS:71249138908
SN - 0306-4530
VL - 34
SP - S178-S185
JO - Psychoneuroendocrinology
JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -