g 14.) ; t Neurosteroids and Convulsant Activity -- g 14.1.) ; t Anticonvulsant Effects of Neurosteroids -- g 14.2.) ; t Pro-Convulsant Effects of Neurosteroids -- g 15.) ; t Roles in Tumors -- g 16.) ; t Neurosteroids and the Spinal Cord -- g 16.1.) ; t Protective and Restorative Functions of Neurosteroids in Injury -- g 16.2.) ; t Neurosteroids in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) -- g 17.) ; t Neurosteroids and the PNS -- g 17.1.) ; t Schwann Cells and Myelination -- g 17.2.) ; t Protective and Regenerative Roles in Injury -- g 17.3.) ; t Demyelinating Diseases and Diabetic Neuropathy -- g 18.) ; t Adrenal Chromaffin Cells and PC12 Cells -- g 19.) ; t Integrated Actions of Neurosteroids in Nociception -- g 19.1.) ; t 3[alpah]-Reduced Steroids and Thermal and Inflammatory Pain -- g 19.2.) ; t Allopregnanolone and Neuropathic Pain -- g 19.3.) ; t DHEA, DHEA-S, and Pregnenolone Sulfate -- g 19.4.) ; t Ovarian Steroids -- g 20.) ; t Mineralocorticoids and Glucocorticoids -- g 20.1.) ; t Glucocorticoids -- g 20.2.) ; t Aldosterone -- g 21.) ; t Substance Abuse -- g 22.) ; t Summary and Conclusions

While steroids from the periphery have profound effects on the nervous system, the nervous system also produces its own steroids de novo. The physiological importance of neurosteroids is beginning to be understood. These steroids potentially have roles in sedative/hypnotic behavior, anxiety, learning, and memory. At the cellular level, neurosteroids affect neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity and cell proliferation and survival. Early findings hold promise for future strategies to treat specific psychologicalconditions and neurological diseases. This Brief will focus on the current state of understanding of brainderived neurosteroids.