[Lotus]

We've pretty much covered plasma & tissue specific sex steroid hormones end to end, though nuero-steroid research is lacking I think, it's something we need to look at more carefully.

Nuero-intracrinology or should we say Neuro-phenomenology is some fascinating stuff. The brain nuerosteroids can be up to 200x stronger over plasma hormones, so you see it has a great deal of potential, for instance (from a recent study) estradiol synthesized in interneurons in the hypothalamus may play a significant role in the control of the GnRH surge and/or pulsatility of GnRH release.


Neurosteroids represent a class of endogenous steroids that are synthesized in the brain, the adrenals, and the gonads and have potent and selective effects on the GABAA-receptor. 3α-hydroxy A-ring reduced metabolites of progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, and testosterone are positive modulators of GABAA-receptor in a non-genomic manner. Allopregnanolone (3α-OH-5α-pregnan-20-one), 5α-androstane-3α, 17α-diol (Adiol), and 3α5α-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (3α5α-THDOC) enhance the GABA-mediated Cl- currents acting on a site (or sites) distinct from the GABA,

Neurosteroids and GABA-A Receptor Function
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3356040/