Leonelli Emanuela, Ballabio Marinella, Consoli Antonio, Roglio Ilaria, Magnaghi Valerio, Melcangi Roberto C
Department of Endocrinology and Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
J Mol Neurosci. 2006;28(1):65-76. doi: 10.1385/jmn:28:1:65.
It is now well known that peripheral nerves are a target for the action of neuroactive steroids. This review summarizes observations obtained so far, indicating that through the interaction with classical and nonclassical steroid receptors, neuroactive steroids (e.g., progesterone, testosterone and their derivatives, estrogens, etc.) are able to influence several parameters of the peripheral nervous system, particularly its glial compartment (i.e., Schwann cells). Interestingly, some of these neuroactive steroids might be considered as promising neuroprotective agents. They are able to counteract neurodegenerative events of rat peripheral nerves occurring after experimental physical trauma, during the aging process, or in hereditary demyelinating diseases. On this basis, the hypothesis that neuroactive steroids might represent a new therapeutic strategy for peripheral neuropathy is proposed.
现在众所周知，外周神经是神经活性甾体作用的靶点。本综述总结了迄今为止获得的观察结果，表明通过与经典和非经典甾体受体相互作用，神经活性甾体（如孕酮、睾酮及其衍生物、雌激素等）能够影响外周神经系统的几个参数，特别是其神经胶质部分（即施万细胞）。有趣的是，其中一些神经活性甾体可能被认为是有前景的神经保护剂。它们能够对抗实验性物理创伤后、衰老过程中或遗传性脱髓鞘疾病中发生的大鼠外周神经的神经退行性事件。在此基础上，提出了神经活性甾体可能代表外周神经病变新治疗策略的假说。
