Involvement of corticosteroid-like neurosteroids in pentobarbital-induced sleep

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Abstract
RECENT reports have confirmed the involvement of neurosteroids in a number of neurophysiological processes, including sleep, and that these compounds interact with the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor A complex. As many of the behavioural effects of pentobarbital are as a result of the activity at this complex, we investigated the role of corticosteroid-like neurosteroids in regulation of sleep, using metyrapone as a tool. Metyrapone, a blocker of the enzyme 11β -hydroxylase, which is essential for the biosynthesis of corticosteroids, when administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) at low doses (50–5000 ng) caused a dose-dependent reduction in sleep time induced by pentobarbital. This effect was, however, antagonized by concomitant administration of anti-corticotropin-releasing factor antisera. The present study reveals for the first time that corticosteroid-like neurosteroids might be involved in the regulation of CNS excitability.