Anxiolytic activity of an endogenous adrenal steroid

The A-ring reduced metabolite of deoxycorticosterone, 3 alpha, 5 alpha-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) was recently shown to act at the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-chloride ion channel complex in rat brain. The behavioral profile of THDOC was investigated using two animal models of anxiety, the two-chambered mouse exploration test and the lick suppression conflict test. THDOC showed anxiolytic activity in both animal models, with an anxiolytic dose range, 5-15 mg/kg i.p., separable from the sedative dose range, above 20-30 mg/kg i.p.