Inter-ictal and post-ictal circulating levels of allopregnanolone, an anticonvulsant metabolite of progesterone, in epileptic children.

Abstract

Allopregnanolone belongs to a group of neuroactive steroid hormones, or neurosteroids, synthesized and acting within the brain and is as a potent endogenous positive modulator of GABA(A) receptor complex. Administration of allopregnanolone protects rats against pentylentetrazol, bicuculline, kainic acid, and picrotoxin-induced seizures. We investigated serum allopregnanolone levels in children with active epilepsy at pubertal Tanner's stage I (n=52). Blood specimens were collected at least 12 h after a seizure (inter-ictal). In a subgroup of patients (n=11), specimens were also collected within 30 min from a seizure attack (post-ictal). Healthy age-matched children (n=18) served as controls. Serum allopregnanolone was measured by radioimmunoassay using a polyclonal antiserum. The inter-ictal serum allopregnanolone levels in the epileptic children were not statistically different from those detected in the control group, whereas post-ictal levels were significantly higher than the inter-ictal ones (P=0.0001). In this subgroup of patients allopregnanolone levels decreased to the basal values during the following 12 h. Serum allopregnanolone levels may therefore reflect changes in neuronal excitability, and allopregnanolone appears to be a reliable circulating marker of epileptic seizures. It is possible that increased post-ictal serum levels of allopregnanolone may play a role in modulating neuronal excitability and may represent an endogenous mechanism of seizure control.

• Authors: Salvatore Grosso, Stefano Luisi, Rosa Mostardini, MariAngela Farnetani, Luigi Cobellis, Guido Morgese, Paolo Balestri, Felice Petraglia
• Journal: Epilepsy research (Epilepsy Res) Vol. 54 Issue 1 Pg. 29-34 (Apr 2003) ISSN: 0920-1211 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12742593 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Progesterone
• Pregnanolone

Topics

• Anticonvulsants (blood)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Electroencephalography
• Epilepsy (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Pregnanolone (blood)
• Progesterone (blood)
• Seizures (blood)