Concentrations of neurosteroids may be influenced by some physiological or pathological factors. We investigated neuroactive steroids in the serum of women suffering from anxiety-depressive disorder treated with fluoxetine and in a control group, in both the follicular and the luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Two groups of neuroactive steroids were measured by radioimmunoassays: 1) the positive allosteric modulator of GABA(A) receptors, allopregnanolone with its precursor progesterone and 2) pregnenolone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) acting on GABA(A) receptors by an opposite mechanism. Significantly higher levels of pregnenolone sulfate (p < 0.0001) were found in patients in both phases of the menstrual cycle. Significantly higher values were recorded in pregnenolone (p < 0.001) and 17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone (p < 0.01) levels in the patients group in the follicular phase. Our results indicate that imbalance in neuroactive steroids may play a negative role in origin and course of psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Institute of Endocrinology Praha Czech Republic

Zobrazit více v PubMed

Neuroendocrinology. 1998 Feb;67(2):126-38 PubMed

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 1989 Nov-Dec;7(6):583-8 PubMed

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Nov 9;96(23):13512-7 PubMed

Am J Psychiatry. 1998 Jul;155(7):910-3 PubMed

Horm Metab Res. 1998 Apr;30(4):227-30 PubMed

Eur J Endocrinol. 2000 Mar;142(3):269-73 PubMed

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983 Sep;57(3):550-6 PubMed

Endocr Rev. 1991 Nov;12(4):372-401 PubMed

Steroids. 1995 Feb;60(2):210-3 PubMed

J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1997 Feb;17(1):11-4 PubMed

FASEB J. 1992 Mar;6(6):2311-22 PubMed

Recent Prog Horm Res. 1997;52:1-32 PubMed

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1995 Dec 29;774:82-110 PubMed

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Oct 29;93(22):12599-604 PubMed

J Neuroendocrinol. 1991 Jun 1;3(3):261-5 PubMed

Biol Psychiatry. 1998 Nov 1;44(9):865-73 PubMed

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Mar 17;95(6):3239-44 PubMed

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1997 Jul;62(4):299-306 PubMed

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1996 Mar;81(3):1076-82 PubMed

Nihon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi. 1976 Oct 20;52(10):1008-19 PubMed

Neuroendocrinology. 1993 Oct;58(4):478-84 PubMed

Clin Chem Lab Med. 1999 Apr;37(4):439-47 PubMed

Ambulatory Neuroproprioceptive Facilitation and Inhibition Physical Therapy Improves Clinical Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis and Modulates Serum Level of Neuroactive Steroids: A Two-Arm Parallel-Group Exploratory Trial