A steroid derivative of formula (I) :(in which : one of R1and R2is hydroxy and the other is hydrogen or R1and R2together represent oxo R3is hydrogen or hydroxy and the dotted lines represent single or double carbon-carbon bonds) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof are useful for the prevention or treatment of pain, for improving nerve regeneration after nerve injury or damage or disease, for the prevention or treatment of brain injury, damage or disease and for neuroprotection. Particularly useful compounds are 11-hydroxy- △ 4-androstene-3 , 17-dione and 11-oxo- △ 4-androstene-3 , 17-dione or their derivatives.一種具有化學式(I)之類固醇衍生物:(其中:R1與R2之一者是羥基而另一者是氫;或R1與R2一起代表側氧基;R3是氫或羥基;以及虛線代表單或雙碳-碳鍵)及其藥學上可接受的鹽類和酯類可應用於:疼痛的預防或治療,在神經損傷或傷害或疾病之後改善神經再生,腦部損傷、傷害或疾病的預防或治療,以及神經保護。特別有用的化合物是11-羥基-△4-雄甾烯-3,17-二酮以及11-側氧基-△4-雄甾烯-3,17-二酮或它們的衍生物。
