Glucocorticoid effects on central nervous excitability and synaptic transmission

Edward D. Hall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

107 Scopus citations

Abstract

This chapter describes glucocorticoid effects on whole-brain excitability, multiple unit evoked responses, single-unit responses, specific neurotransmitters, and mechanism of action. The consideration that the increased glucocorticoid may play a pathophysiological role in the affective disorder is strongly suggested by the demonstrated psychiatric disturbance produced by intensive glucocorticoid treatment of numerous medical conditions and by those that are observed in patients with Cushing's and Addison's diseases. Intensive glucocorticoid therapy of animals after experimental spinal-cord trauma has been shown to be effective in promoting functional recovery, indicating the efficacy of the glucocorticoids in central nervous system (CNS) injury, if they are given early and repeatedly in large doses. However, the mechanism(s) of action, and thus the rationale and optimal dosing regimen for glucocorticoid treatment of the injured CNS remains unknown.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)165-195
Number of pages31
JournalInternational Review of Neurobiology
Volume23
Issue numberC
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1982

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The author’s work has been supported by U.S. Public Health Service (NIMH) grants MH-31887 and MH-34111 and a grant from the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of America. The author gratefully acknowledges the dedicated technical assistance of Mrs. Brigitte Hirst and the critical review ofthe manuscript by Drs. Martin D. Schechterand J. Mark Braughler.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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