Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir6.2

Title: Effect of pregnane steroids on electrocortical activity and somatosensory evoked potentials in fetal sheep.

Authors: M B Nicol, J J Hirst, D W Walker

Journal, date & volume: Neurosci. Lett., 1998 Sep 4 , 253, 111-4

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9774162

Abstract
The effect of infusing the neuroactive steroids pregnanolone and iso-pregnanolone on somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) and electrocortical (ECoG) activity was studied in unanaesthetised fetal sheep, 130-135 days gestation. Intravenous infusion of pregnanolone (6 mg/kg per h) significantly increased the proportion of high voltage ECoG (56.1+/-4.8% vs. control 43.5+/-3.2%, P < 0.05), and decreased low voltage ECoG (43.9+/-4.8% vs. control 56.6+/-3.2%, P < 0.05). Pregnanolone treatment decreased the amplitude of the N25 peak of the SEP (89.9+/-2.8% of control, P < 0.05) evoked following stimulation of the skin of the upper lip. In contrast, iso-pregnanolone treatment had no effect on ECoG activities, or on the amplitude and latency of peaks in the SEP. We conclude that 3alpha-hydroxy pregnane steroids are active at GABA(A) receptors in fetal sheep and can modulate sleep/wake activity before birth.