3α-hydroxy-6,19-oxidopregn-4-ene-20-one (Ns1) effects on astrogliosis induced by hypoxia in organotypic cultures of cerebral cortex

Abstract

Some progesterone’s metabolites produced in the nervous system are able to modulate the action of neurotransmitters on ion channels. One of these steroids Allopregnanolone (Allo) has showed a neuroprotective effect on organotypic cultures from cerebral cortex submitted to hypoxia. On the other hand preliminary studies have indicated that the synthetic steroid 6-19 oxo-pregnene (Ns1) shows a similar binding pattern to GABA A receptor like Allo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective action of Ns1 in an ‘in vitro’ tissue culture system by determining the astroglial reaction (GFAP) during hypoxia.