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Neuroactive steroids

A therapeutic approach to maintain peripheral nerve integrity during neurodegenerative events

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Abstract

It is now well known that peripheral nerves are a target for the action of neuroactive steroids. This review summarizes observations obtained so far, indicating that through the interaction with classical and nonclassical steroid receptors, neuroactive steroids (e.g., progesterone, testosterone and their derivatives, estrogens, etc.) are able to influence several parameters of the peripheral nervous system, particularly its glial compartment (i.e., Schwann cells). Interestingly, some of these neuroactive steroids might be considered as promising neuro-protective agents. They are able to counteract neurodegenerative events of rat peripheral nerves occurring after experimental physical trauma, during the aging process, or in hereditary demyelinating diseases. On this basis, the hypothesis that neuroactive steroids might represent a new therapeutic strategy for peripheral neuropathy is proposed.

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  1. Department of Endocrinology and Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Emanuela Leonelli, Marinella Ballabio, Antonio Consoli, Ilaria Roglio, Valerio Magnaghi & Roberto C. Melcangi

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  1. Emanuela Leonelli
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  2. Marinella Ballabio
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  3. Antonio Consoli
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  4. Ilaria Roglio
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  5. Valerio Magnaghi
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  6. Roberto C. Melcangi
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Correspondence to Roberto C. Melcangi.

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Leonelli, E., Ballabio, M., Consoli, A. et al. Neuroactive steroids. J Mol Neurosci 28, 65–76 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1385/JMN:28:1:65

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/JMN:28:1:65

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