Allopregnanolone is synthesized in the central nervous system either de novo from cholesterol or from steroid hormone precursors like progesterone and pregnenolone. Over the past 30 years, direct and rapid, non-genomic actions of allopregnanolone and its derivatives via GABA_A receptors have been demonstrated. Changes in brain levels of allopregnanolone during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, or during exposure to protracted stress appear to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. The discovery that allopregnanolone at low (nanomolar) concentrations elicits marked anxiolytic, anti-stress and antidepressant effects by facilitating allosterically the action of GABA at extrasynaptic GABA_A receptors has provided new perspectives for the discovery of novel drugs useful for the treatment of mood disorders. These findings have led to the seminal clinical studies that recently demonstrated that treatment with allopregnanolone (i.e., brexanolone) can dramatically and rapidly improve the symptoms of postpartum depression in many patients.

异戊烷醇酮是在中枢神经系统中从胆固醇或类固醇激素前体（如孕酮和孕烯醇酮）重新合成的。在过去的30年中，已证明了Allopregnanolone及其衍生物通过GABA _A受体具有直接，快速的非基因作用。在怀孕期间和产后期间，或在长时间承受压力的过程中，四氢萘甲酮的大脑水平的变化似乎在情绪障碍的病理生理中起着至关重要的作用。低（纳摩尔）浓度的Allopregnanolone的发现通过突触促进GABA在突触外GABA _A上的变构作用而引起明显的抗焦虑，抗应激和抗抑郁作用。受体为发现可用于治疗情绪障碍的新药物提供了新的见解。这些发现导致了开创性的临床研究，最近的研究表明，用阿洛培那那龙（即brexanolone）治疗可以显着，迅速地改善许多患者的产后抑郁症状。