Patent ID: 6245756
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: A61K

Abstract:
A method of treating estrogen deficiency in the central nervous system of a man or an animal, said method comprising administering an effective amount of a steroid compound having a selective neurotropic transcription action in contrast to a systemic action like that of estrogen compounds, wherein said steroid compound is a compound of formula I: ##STR3##wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group or an alkoxy group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, an acyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a group of the formula SO.sub.2 NR.sub.10 R.sub.11, wherein R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or together with nitrogen, a pyrrolidino group, a piperidino group or a morpholino group;R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group; R.sub.4 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group or an alkyl group with 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 each represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; R.sub.7 represents hydrogen or a methyl group; R.sub.8a represents a hydrogen and R.sub.8b represents a hydroxy group or R.sub.8a represents a hydroxy group and R.sub.8b represents a hydrogen or R.sub.8a and R.sub.8b together represent an oxo group or a group of formula CR.sub.12 R.sub.13, in which R.sub.12 and R.sub.13 each represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; R.sub.9 represent a methyl or an ethyl group; Z either represents a double bond or a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopropane ring; and >CR.sub.5 R.sub.6 is an .alpha. group or a .beta. group and R.sub.7 is a .beta. group when >CR.sub.5 R.sub.6 is an .alpha. group and vice versa; anda pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or diluent.