The Constitutive Androstane Receptor and Pregnane X Receptor in the brain.

Since their discovery, the orphan nuclear receptors constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) have been regarded as master regulators of drug disposition and detoxification mechanisms that regulate the metabolism and transport of endogenous mediators and xenobiotics in organs including the liver, intestine and brain. However, with proposals of new physiological functions for CAR and PXR, there is increasing interest in the role of these receptors in influencing brain function. This review will summarize key findings regarding the expression and function of CAR and PXR in the brain, hereby highlighting the need for further research in this field.