Pregnanolone: A Highly Potent, Naturally Occurring Hypnotic-Anesthetic Agent.

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Abstract
Pregnanolone (3-[alpha]-hydroxy 5[beta]-pregnane 20-one) a metabolite of Progesterone is a highly potent, short acting hypnotic agent when administered in solution form intravenously. Neuropharmacologic analysis in cats and monkeys showed depression of the reticular activating system of the midbrain and other electrophysiologic phenomena similar to those produced by barbiturates. On the basis of the doses employed in this study (0.1-4.0 mg/kg intravenously) to a wide variety of mammals (mouse, rat, rabbit, cat, dog, monkeys[long dash]4 species) pregnanolone is one of the most potent hypnotic-anesthetic agents.