Diurnal Changes in the Synthesis of the Neurosteroid 7?-Hydroxypregnenolone Stimulating Locomotor Activity in Newts
We recently identified 7?-hydroxypregnenolone as a novel amphibian neurosteroid stimulating locomotor activity in newts. Because male newts show marked diurnal changes in locomotor activity, we hypothesized that 7?-hydroxypregnenolone may be a key factor for the induction of diurnal changes in locomotor activity in male newts. In this study, we found diurnal changes in 7?-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis in the brain of male newts, which paralleled locomotor activity. Interestingly, the production of 7?-hydroxypregnenolone in the male newt brain increased during the dark phase when locomotor activity of males was high.
diurnal changes neurosteroids 7?-hydroxypregnenolone locomotor activity newts