Tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone(Tetrahydro-11-deoxycorticosterone) is a potent GABAA receptor orthosteric modulator (PAM) with neuroprotective activity that selectively inhibits neurosteroid-mediated enhancement of GABA-induced currents at the GABAA receptor, and can be used in the study of neurological disorders.

At physiological concentrations, the endogenous neurosteroid Tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) selectively enhances tonic currents mediated by αβδ receptors[1]. In the hippocampus, the reduction of neuronal excitability is observed with 10 nM Tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone, achieved by augmenting tonic αβδ receptor currents. Notably, in thalamocortical neurons, although 100 nM Tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone enhances tonic currents, the same effect is not observed with 10 nM Tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone[1].

Sufficient concentrations of Tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) in the brain tissue of mice with hepatic encephalopathy (HE), arising from toxic liver injury, can induce sedation in animals of the same species[2].