Allopregnanediol, or 5α-pregnane-3α,20α-diol, is an endogenous metabolite of progesterone and allopregnanolone and an isomer of pregnanediol (5β-pregnan-3α,20α-diol).[1] It has been found to act like a partial agonist of an allosteric site of the GABA receptor and hence might play a biological role as a neurosteroid.[2] It has also been found to act as an agonist of the human pregnane X receptor, albeit with an EC50 that is more than an order of magnitude lower than that of other endogenous pregnanes like pregnenolone, pregnanediol, allopregnanedione, and allopregnanolone.[3]

Chemistry

See also: List of neurosteroids

References

  1. ^ Finn, Deborah A.; Purdy, Robert H. (2007). "Neuroactive Steroids in Anxiety and Stress". Handbook of Contemporary Neuropharmacology. doi:10.1002/9780470101001.hcn026. ISBN 978-0470101001.
  2. ^ Belelli D, Gee KW (1989). "5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha,20 alpha-diol behaves like a partial agonist in the modulation of GABA-stimulated chloride ion uptake by synaptoneurosomes". Eur. J. Pharmacol. 167 (1): 173–6. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(89)90760-7. PMID 2550257.
  3. ^ Ekins, Sean; Reschly, Erica J; Hagey, Lee R; Krasowski, Matthew D (2008). "Evolution of pharmacologic specificity in the pregnane X receptor". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 8 (1): 103. Bibcode:2008BMCEE...8..103E. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-8-103. ISSN 1471-2148. PMC 2358886. PMID 18384689.