Analytical Methods for the Determination of Neuroactive Steroids
Michal Kaleta1, Jana Oklestkova1, Ondřej Novák1
1Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Faculty of Science and Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů 27, CZ-78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Biomolecules
|April 30, 2021
Summary
Neuroactive steroids impact nervous system function. Understanding their production and levels aids in diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Neuroactive steroids, derived from natural or synthetic sources, modulate nervous system functions.
- Their production occurs within the nervous system (neurosteroids) or peripheral endocrine tissues (hormonal steroids).
- Fluctuations in steroid hormone levels are linked to physiological changes and various pathologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current analytical methods for neuroactive steroids.
- To emphasize immunoanalytical techniques and chromatography-mass spectrometry approaches.
Main Methods:
- Immunoanalytical methods
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
- Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)
Main Results:
- The review highlights key analytical techniques for neuroactive steroid quantification.
- Specific focus is placed on the strengths of immunoassays and hyphenated chromatographic-mass spectrometric methods.
Conclusions:
- Accurate analysis of neuroactive steroids is crucial for understanding their role in health and disease.
- Improved monitoring can support the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
