Allopregnanolone (1) and pregnanolone (2), steroids containing a 17beta-acetyl group, are potent enhancers of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) action at GABAA receptors. Their effects are enantioselective with the non-naturally occurring enantiomers (ent-1 and ent-2) being less potent. Androsterone (3) and etiocholanolone (4), steroids with a C-17 carbonyl group, are weak enhancers of GABA action at GABAA receptors. Unexpectedly, their enantiomers (ent-3 and ent-4) have been found to have enhanced, not diminished, activity at GABAA receptors. Furthermore, the C-17 spiro-epoxide analogues (ent-5 and ent-6) of ent-3 and ent-4, respectively, have activities comparable to those of steroids 1 and 2. The results indicate that some ent-steroids are potent modulators of GABAA receptors and might have clinical potential as GABAergic drugs of the future.
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