Glia-neuron interactions: Neurosteroids

Abstract

Glial cells have both beneficial and detrimental effects on recovery from brain damage and play a role in epileptogenesis. Herein, we summarize evidence indicating that the ability of astrocytes to produce neurosteroids that reinforce γ-aminobutyric acid receptor A (GABAA) functions impinge on epileptogenesis, as shown in temporal lobe epilepsy models. For an expanded treatment of this topic see Jasper's Basic Mechanisms of the Epilepsies, Fourth Edition (Noebels JL, Avoli M, Rogawski MA, Olsen RW, Delgado-Escueta AV, eds) published by Oxford University Press (available on the National Library of Medicine Bookshelf [NCBI] at). © 2010 International League Against Epilepsy.