Longone Patrizia, Rupprecht Rainer, Manieri Gaia A, Bernardi Giorgio, Romeo Elena, Pasini Augusto
Molecular Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation, Scientific Institute, Rome, Italy.
Neurochem Int. 2008 Mar-Apr;52(4-5):596-601. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2007.10.001. Epub 2007 Oct 6.
The role of neurosteroids in neuropsychiatric disorders has been thoroughly investigated in many research studies that have stressed their significant pathophysiological function in neuropsychiatry. In this review, we will focus mainly on the steroids active on the GABA(A) receptors studied in anxiety and depression. The aim is to discuss the controversial results reported in research on anxiety and depressive disorders. We suggest the combined use of biological parameters linked to psychopathological dimensions to make more homogeneous diagnoses and to develop more precise therapies for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. We discuss the role of neurosteroids in the pathophysiology and therapy of anxiety and depression. Finally, we consider the possibility of using quantification of mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes from peripheral sources in neuropsychiatry.
神经甾体在神经精神疾病中的作用已在许多研究中得到深入探讨，这些研究强调了它们在神经精神病学中的重要病理生理功能。在本综述中，我们将主要关注作用于γ-氨基丁酸A型（GABA(A)）受体的甾体，这些甾体在焦虑和抑郁方面已有研究。目的是讨论焦虑症和抑郁症研究中报道的有争议的结果。我们建议结合使用与精神病理维度相关的生物学参数，以做出更统一的诊断，并开发更精确的疗法来治疗抑郁症和焦虑症。我们讨论神经甾体在焦虑和抑郁的病理生理学及治疗中的作用。最后，我们考虑在神经精神病学中利用外周来源的甾体生成酶mRNA表达定量的可能性。
