Neurosteroids and focal epileptic disorders
Neurosteroids are a family of compounds that are synthesized in principal excitatory neurons and glial cells, and derive from the transformation of cholesterol into pregnenolone. The most studied neurosteroids-allopregnanolone and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC)-are known to modulate GABAΑ receptor-mediated transmission, thus playing a role in controlling neuronal network excitability.