Allopregnanolone has no effect on startle response and prepulse inhibition of startle response in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder or healthy controls

• Background: Allopregnanolone is an endogenous neuroactive steroid  which, through the binding to the GABA(A) receptor. enhances inhibitory   neurotransmission and exerts anxiolytic, sedative and antiepileptic  effects. Following acute administration, allopregnanolone reliably acts as an anxiolytic compound. The primary aim of this study was to investigate if allopregnanolone, administered to healthy women and   women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), would have an anxiolytic effect, expressed as a decreased startle response.   Materials and methods: Sixteen PMDD patients and twelve healthy   controls completed the study. The participants were scheduled for the   startle tests twice in the luteal phase. During the test sessions an intravenous allopregnanolone and placebo bolus injection was administered in double-blinded, randomized order at intervals of 48 h. Following the allopregnanolone/placebo injections startle response and   prepulse inhibition of startle response (PPI) were assessed by   electromyography.   Results: Following the intravenous allopregnanolone administration the   serum concentrations of allopregnanolone increased to 50-70 nmol/l.   corresponding to levels that are seen during pregnancy. The obtained   serum concentrations of allopregnanolone were significantly lower in   PMDD patients than among the healthy controls, p<0.05. The   allopregnanolone injection resulted in significant increases of   self-rated sedation in both groups, p<0.01. Allopregnanolone did not induce any changes in startle response or prepulse inhibition of   startle response in comparison to placebo. No differences in allopregnanolone-induced changes in startle response or PPI could be detected between PMDD patients and controls subjects. Conclusion: Startle response and PPI were unaffected by acute   intravenous administration of allopregnanolone in PMDD patients and healthy controls.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Allopregnanolone

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Startle response

Prepulse inhibition

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Obstetrics and gynaecology

obstetrik och gynekologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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