Abstract
This chapter summarizes evidence that GABAergic neuroactive steroids are modulated by alcohol in mice, rats, monkeys, and humans. Alcohol differentially affects neuroactive steroid concentrations depending on type of exposure (acute vs chronic), as well as on species and brain regions examined. Alcohol-induced elevations in neuroactive steroids influence many of the GABAergic effects of ethanol in vivo and contribute to sensitivity to behavioral effects of ethanol in rodents. Likewise, neuroactive steroids appear to contribute to subjective effects of alcohol in humans. Moreover, neuroactive steroids modulate ethanol reinforcement and consumption, and may be deficient in ethanol dependence, suggesting that neuroactive steroid responses to alcohol may play a role in vulnerability to alcohol use disorders. These findings provide a rationale for exploration of the therapeutic effects of GABAergic neuroactive steroids in alcohol use disorders.
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