Neuroactive steroids of the androstane and pregnane series

A compound of the formula:

• or a physiologically acceptable salt or 3-ester thereof;
• wherein
• R is one of hydrogen, amino, thio, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, alkynyl or substituted alkynyl;
• R1 is one of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, dihaloalkyl, trihaloalkyl, optionally substituted aralkynyl, alkoxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, cyano, cyanoalkyl, thiocyanoalkyl, azidoalkyl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkylalkynyl, alkanoyloxyalkynyl, optionally substituted heteroaryloxyalkynyl, oxoalkynyl or a ketal thereof, cyanoalkynyl, optionally substituted heteroarylalkynyl, hydroxyalkynyl, alkoxyalkynyl, aminoalkynyl, acylaminoalkynyl, mercaptoalkynyl, hydroxyalkynyl dioic acid hemi-ester or a salt thereof, or alkynyloxyalkynyl;
• R2 is one of hydrogen, alkoxy, a keto group or a dimethylamino group;
• R3 is one of —C(O)—CH2—O—D or —C(O)—CH2—Y′—Z—G;
• Y′ is O;
• Z is one of unsubstituted alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene;
• G is one of C-attached heteroaryl or a quaternary anmmonium salt of a nitrogen containing heteroaryl group;
• D is C-attached heteroaryl or a quaternary ammonium salt of a nitrogen containing heteroaryl group;
• R4 is one of hydrogen or methyl;
• R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are each hydrogen;
• and
• the dotted lines all represent single bonds;
• wherein said C-attached heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, quinolinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, and isoquinolinyl.