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Michael A. Rogawski

Neurosteroid

Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Medical Neurobiology

Role Of Neurosteroids In The Anticonvulsant Activity Of Midazolam, Ashish Dhir, Michael A. Rogawski Mar 2012

Role Of Neurosteroids In The Anticonvulsant Activity Of Midazolam, Ashish Dhir, Michael A. Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Midazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine that is widely used as an intravenous sedative and anticonvulsant. Besides interacting with the benzodiazepine site associated with GABA-A receptors, some benzodiazepines act as agonists of translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) to enhance the synthesis of steroids, including neurosteroids with positive modulatory actions on GABA-A receptors. We sought to determine if neurosteroidogenesis induced by midazolam contributes to its anticonvulsant action. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Mice were pretreated with neurosteroid synthesis inhibitors and potentiators followed by midazolam or clonazepam, a weak TSPO ligand. Anticonvulsant activity was assessed with the intravenous pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) threshold test. KEY …


Neurosteroid Replacement Therapy For Catamenial Epilepsy, Doodipala S. Reddy, Michael A. Rogawski Apr 2009

Neurosteroid Replacement Therapy For Catamenial Epilepsy, Doodipala S. Reddy, Michael A. Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

Perimenstural catamenial epilepsy, the cyclical occurrence of seizure exacerbations near the time of menstruation, affects a high proportion of women of reproductive age with drug refractory epilepsy. Enhanced seizure susceptibility in perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy is believed to be due to the withdrawal of the progesterone-derived GABA-A receptor modulating neurosteroid allopregnanolone as a result of the fall in progesterone at the time of menstruation. Studies in a rat pseudopregnancy model of catamenial epilepsy indicate that following neurosteroid withdrawal there is enhanced susceptibility to chemoconvulsant seizures. There is also a transitory increase in the frequency of spontaneous seizures in epleptic rats that …


Neurosteroids: Endogenous Modulators Of Seizure Susceptibility, Michael A. Rogawski, Doodipala S. Reddy Dec 2003

Neurosteroids: Endogenous Modulators Of Seizure Susceptibility, Michael A. Rogawski, Doodipala S. Reddy

Michael A. Rogawski

No abstract provided.


Of Blind Men And Brain Steroids, Michael A. Rogawski Dec 1999

Of Blind Men And Brain Steroids, Michael A. Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

Review of "Neurosteroids: A New Regulatory Function in the Nervous System" (edited by Etiene-Emile Baulieu, Paul Robel and Michael Schumacher), Humana Press, 1999. ISBN 0896 03545X The first recognized example of the profound influence of steroid hormones on the nervous system was perhaps the observation in prehistoric times that animal behaviour changes dramatically during oestrus (the period of female sexual receptivity). In recent years, much specific evidence has accumulated confirming that steroids affect the structure and function of the nervous system through effects on neurogenesis, cell death, cell migration, synapse formation and neuronal excitability.