Study Of The Regulatory Mechanism Of Ethanol And Its Metabolite (Aldehyde) On Neurosteroidogensis And Signal Transduction In Rat Cerebral Cortical Nerve Cells

Ethanol is one of the abusive substances to drink diffusely. The physical and mental diseases induced by toxicosis and abuse of ethanol have been noticed in the world. Ethanol can restrain the function of central neural system(CNS). Its metabolite is aldehyde. Because it can dissolve in organic solvent, ethanol has high appetency with cerebrum and nerve system. Past studies about alcoholism have demonstrated that cerebral cortex served as important synthetical position of neurosteroid was one of the functionary target tissues(including ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, frontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus) in cerebral nerve circulation involved in ethanol addiction.Neurosteroids are a new group of neurotransmitters with wide effects. Neurosteroids include the steroids synthesized in central neural system, and the steroids secreted from steroidogenic gland but accumulated in the brain. In nerve tissue, multiplicate cells such as astrocytes, oligodendrocyte and neurons can express steroidogenic key enzymes. The 4th genenration neuromessengers, neurosteroids participate in regulating the function of neurotransmitter receptors. In isomerous mode some neurosteroids can modulate the function of GABA,NMDA,AMPA,sigma and other receptors. Ethanol can affect synthesis of some neurosteroids in rat, synchronously neurosteroids can modulate neuronal functions by genomic or non-genomic mechanisms. Studies suggested that ethanol with acute or chronic exposure may influence steroidogenic multi-enzymes expression involved in steroid biosynthesis and metabolism. There was consanguineously relationship between neurosteroids sensitiveness and ethanol dependence and withdrawal. The experimental results in our lab showed that the levels of neurosteroids...