Abstract
Steroid 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1; EC 1.14.15.4) is a mitochondrial enzyme located in the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex and also in the brain that mediates the conversion of 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol and 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) to corticosterone. Inhibitors of CYP11B1, such as metyrapone and etomidate, reduce glucocorticoid synthesis and raise levels of DOC providing greater availability for metabolic conversion to the GABA A receptor modulating neurosteroid allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC). Because THDOC is a potent anticonvulsant, it is plausible that CYP11B1 inhibitors could protect against seizures. Here we demonstrate that metyrapone affords dose-dependent protection against 6-Hz seizures 30 min after injection (ED 50, 191 mg/kg), but is markedly more potent at 6 h (ED 50, 30 mg/kg). Similarly, etomidate is also protective at 30 min and 6 h (ED 50 values, 4.5 and 1.7 mg/kg). Finasteride, an inhibitor of neurosteroid synthesis, attenuated the anticonvulsant effects of both CYP11B1 inhibitors at 6 h, but not 30 min following their injection. Plasma THDOC levels measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry were markedly increased 6 h after injection of both CYP11B1 inhibitors and this increase was attenuated by finasteride pretreatment. We conclude that inhibition of CYP11B1 causes delayed seizure protection due to slow build-up of neurosteroids. Early seizure protection is independent of neurosteroids.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 133-137 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Neuropharmacology |
Volume | 61 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2011 |
Keywords
- Allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone
- Etomidate
- Finasteride
- Metyrapone
- Neurosteroid
- Steroid 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) inhibitor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Pharmacology