摘要:
The invention relates to a 3α-hydroxy, 17-(un)substituted derivatives of the androstane series and 3α-hydroxy, 21-substituted derivatives of the pregnane series. These derivatives are capable of acting at the recently identified site on the GRC, thereby modulating brain excitability in a manner that will alleviate stress, anxiety, insomnia, mood disorders that are amenable to GRC-active agents (such as depression) and seizure activity. The steroid derivatives of this invention are those having general structural formula (I), wherein R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 ,R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 are further defined herein and the dotted lines are single or double bonds. The structure includes androstanes pregnanes (R 4 = methyl), 19-norandrostanes, and norpregnanes (R 4 =H).