[Neurosteroidogenesis and exploratory responses in rodents]

We have studied the influence of intraperitoneal introduction of a selective blocker of mitochondrial translocation protein 18kD PK11195 (5 mg/kg), indomethacin (5 and 10 mg/kg), finasteride (5 and 15 mg/kg), and neurosteroid pregnenolone (20 mg/kg) on the exploratory behavior of male BALB/c mice, C57BL/6 mice, and Wistar rats in open-field test. It is found that treatment with PK11195 weakens the exploratory behavior in open-field test in mice of both strains. Finasteride and indomethacin decrease the exploratory responses in rodents regardless of the species or type of stress emotional response phenotype. Pregnenolone possesses activating effect in open-field in open-field test, but enhances the inhibitory effect of finasteride in BALB/c mice.