Book dossier

Neurosteroid effects in the central nervous system

by Sheryl S. Smith

A complete overview of the effects of steroid hormones in the brain and describes new methods for investigating these effects. The author discusses the latest theories on steroid action in the central nervous system and the techniques for receptor localization and quantification and enzyme regulation. He also explores the use of transgenic/antisense strategies to determine sites and the cellular effects of steroid action in the brain. The material covers the range of steroid action on such end points as mood, cognition, sensorimotor action, neuroprotection, and plasticity, and it describes methods using molecular, electrophysical, and behavioral techniques to link cellular mechanisms of steroid action with behavioral effects.