Pregnenolone

145-13-1

C21H32O2

DMSO : 12.5 mg/mL (39.50 mM; Need ultrasonic); H2O : < 0.1 mg/mL (insoluble)

Autophagy; GPCR/G Protein; Metabolic Enzyme/Protease; Neuronal Signaling

Pregnenolone acts as a signaling-specific inhibitor of cannabinoid CB1 receptor, reduces several effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). IC50 & Target: Cannabinoid CB1 receptor^[1] In Vitro: The effect of THC is significantly attenuated when slices are pre-treated with Pregnenolone 100 nM (15.1+/-1.8 % of inhibition). These effects are likely due to a pre-synaptic action of Pregnenolone. Thus, Pregnenolone blocks the increase in paired-pulse ratio (PPR) induced by THC but does not modify either the amplitude or the decay time of miniature EPSC (mEPSC)^[1]. In Vivo: Pregnenolone administration (2-6 mg/kg) blocks THC-induced food-intake in Wistar rats and in C57BL/6N mice, and blunts the memory impairment induced by THC in mice, but it does not modify these behaviors per se. Injections of Pregnenolone (2 and 4mg/kg) before each self-administration session reduce the intake of WIN 55, 212-2 and reduce the break-point in a progressive ratio schedule^[1].