Synthesis and GABA(A) receptor activity of a 6,19-oxido analogue of pregnanolone.

3 alpha-Hydroxy-6,19-oxidopregn-4-ene-20-one (4) was prepared in seven steps from pregnanolone acetate. At 0.1 microM concentration 4 significantly increased GABA induced (36)Cl(-) influx in hamster cerebral cortex synaptoneurosomes while at 20 mg/kg it decreased the percentage of hamsters showing seizures induced by 3-mercaptopropionic acid.