5α-Androst-16-en-3α-ol is a steroid pheromone that has been found in boar testes and human male axillary sweat and has diverse biological activities.1,2It enhances GABA-activated currents in primary mouse cerebellar granule cells (EC50= 0.4 μM).25α-Androst-16-en-3α-ol (0.1-1 μM) increases the amplitude of GABA-activated currents in HEK293 cells expressing human α1β2γ2and α2β2γ2subunit-containing GABAAreceptors.

In vivo, 5α-androst-16-en-3α-ol (5-10 mg/kg) decreases immobility time in the forced swim test in mice. It increases time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze in mice, indicating anxiolytic-like activity, when administered at doses ranging from 30 to 50 mg/kg. 5α-Androst-16-en-3α-ol protects against seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole or electroshock in mice (ED50s = 48.9 and 21.9 mg/kg, respectively).