[Effects of corticosteroids on seizures and neurotoxicity]

Neurosteroids are precursors or metabolites of steroid hormones, which influence the excitability of central nervous system via nongenomic mechanism. Neurosteroids which are positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors, show anticonvulsant effects in a variety of animal models of epilepsy. Furthermore, some neurosteroids can prevent excitatory amino acid- and oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage both in vivo and in vitro. The efficacy and low intrinsic toxicity of neurosteroids, suggest their potential use in therapy of some neurological diseases.