Profiling Neuroactive Steroid Levels After Traumatic Brain Injury in Male Mice

The incidence of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in humans has rapidly increased in the last ten years. The most common causes are falls and car accidents. Approximately 80 000–90 000 persons per year will suffer some permanent disability as a result of the lesion, and one of the most common symptoms is the decline of hormone levels, also known as post-TBI hormonal deficiency syndrome. This issue has become more and more important, and many studies have focused on shedding some light on it. The hormonal decline affects not only gonadal steroid hormones but also neuroactive steroids, which play an important role in TBI recovery by neuroprotective and neurotrophic actions. The present work used an adolescent close-head murine model to analyze brain and plasma neurosteroid level changes after TBI and to establish correlations with edema and neurological impairments, 2 of the hallmarks of TBI. Our results showed changes in brain pregnenolone, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 3α-diol levels whereas...