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Brain and Pineal 7ÃÂÃÂÃÂñ-Hydroxypregnenolone Regulating Locomotor Behavior: Discovery, Progress and Prospect

K. Tsutsui,S. Haraguchi,T. Ubuka

Published 2018 in Unknown venue

ABSTRACT

The brain synthesizes steroids de novo from cholesterol, which are called neurosteroids. The formation of neurosteroids in the brain is a conserved property across vertebrates, but it is still incompletely elucidated in vertebrates. In fact, 7α-hydroxypregnenolone (7α-OH PREG) was identified as a novel bioactive neurosteroid stimulating locomotor behavior in the brain of several vertebrates. Subsequently, the mode of action of 7α-OH PREG and the regulation of 7α-OH PREG synthesis in the brain have demonstrated by follow-up studies. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the pineal gland, an endocrine organ located close to the brain, is a major site of formation of bioactive neurosteroids. This is a new finding of the formation of neurosteroids because for a long time neurosteroids are believed to be produced in neurons and glial cells in the brain. In addition to the brain, the pineal gland actively produces 7α-OH PREG as a major pineal neurosteroid that acts on the brain to regulate locomotor rhythms. Thus, the discovery of 7α-OH PREG, a new bioactive neurosteroid, has provided a novel direction to investigate neurosteroid regulation of locomotor behavior. This review summarizes the discovery, progress and prospect of brain and pineal 7α-OH PREG regulating locomotor behavior in vertebrates.

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