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| 2. |
- Bäckström, Torbjörn, et al.
(author)
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Allopregnanolone and mood disorders
- 2014
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In: Progress in Neurobiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-0082 .- 1873-5118. ; 113, s. 88-94
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Certain women experience negative mood symptoms during the menstrual cycle and progesterone addition in estrogen treatments. In women with PMDD increased negative mood symptoms related to allopregnanolone increase during the luteal phase of ovulatory menstrual cycles. In anovulatory cycles no symptom or sex steroid increase occurs. This is unexpected as positive modulators of the GABA-A receptor are generally increasing mood. This paradoxical effect has brought forward a hypothesis that the symptoms are provoked by allopregnanolone the GABA-A receptor system. GABA-A is the major inhibitory system in the brain. Positive modulators of the GABA-A receptor include the progesterone metabolites allopregnanolone and pregnanolone, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol. GABA-A receptor modulators are known, in low concentrations to induce adverse, anxiogenic effects whereas in higher concentrations show beneficial, calming properties. Positive GABA-A receptor modulators induce strong paradoxical effects e.g. negative mood in 3-8% of those exposed, while up to 25% have moderate symptoms thus similar as the prevalence of PMDD, 3-8% among women in fertile ages, and up to 25% have moderate symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The mechanism behind paradoxical reaction might be similar among them who react on positive GABA-A receptor modulators and in women with PMDD. In women the severity of these mood symptoms are related to the allopregnanolone serum concentrations in an inverted U-shaped curve. Negative mood symptoms occur when the serum concentration of allopregnanolone is similar to endogenous luteal phase levels, while low and high concentrations have less effect on mood. Low to moderate progesterone/allopregnanolone concentrations in women increases the activity in the amygdala (measured with fMRI) similar to the changes seen during anxiety reactions. Higher concentrations give decreased amygdala activity similar as seen during benzodiazepine treatment with calming anxiolytic effects. Patients with PMDD show decreased sensitivity in GABA-A receptor sensitivity to diazepam and pregnanolone while increased sensitivity to allopregnanolone. This agrees with findings in animals showing a relation between changes in alpha4 and delta subunits of the GABA-A receptor and anxiogenic effects of allopregnanolone. Conclusion: These findings suggest that negative mood symptoms in women with PMDD are caused by the paradoxical effect of allopregnanolone mediated via the GABA-A receptor.(c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 3. |
- Bäckström, Torbjörn, et al.
(author)
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Isoallopregnanolone inhibits estrus cycle-dependent aggressive behavior
- 2023
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In: Biomolecules. - : MDPI. - 2218-273X. ; 13:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Among female rats, some individuals show estrus cycle-dependent irritability/aggressive behaviors, and these individual rats may be used as a model for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). We wanted to investigate if these behaviors are related to the estrus cycle phase containing moderately increased levels of positive GABA-A receptor-modulating steroids (steroid-PAM), especially allopregnanolone (ALLO), and if the adverse behavior can be antagonized. The electrophysiology studies in this paper show that isoallopregnanolone (ISO) is a GABA-A-modulating steroid antagonist (GAMSA), meaning that ISO can antagonize the agonistic effects of positive GABA-A receptor-modulating steroids in both α1β2γ2L and α4β3δ GABA-A receptor subtypes. In this study, we also investigated whether ISO could antagonize the estrus cycle-dependent aggressive behaviors in female Wistar rats using a resident–intruder test. Our results confirmed previous reports of estrus cycle-dependent behaviors in that 42% of the tested rats showed higher levels of irritability/aggression at diestrus compared to those at estrus. Furthermore, we found that, during the treatment with ISO, the aggressive behavior at diestrus was alleviated to a level comparable to that of estrus. We noticed an 89% reduction in the increase in aggressive behavior at diestrus compared to that at estrus. Vehicle treatment in the same animals showed a minimal effect on the diestrus-related aggressive behavior. In conclusion, we showed that ISO can antagonize Steroid-PAM both in α1β2γ2L and α4β3δ GABA-A receptor subtypes and inhibit estrus cycle-dependent aggressive behavior.
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| 4. |
- Das, Roshni, et al.
(author)
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Medroxyprogesterone acetate positively modulates specific GABAA-receptor subtypes - affecting memory and cognition
- 2022
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In: Psychoneuroendocrinology. - : Elsevier. - 0306-4530 .- 1873-3360. ; 141
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is a progestin widely used in humans as hormone replacement therapy and at other indications. Many progestin metabolites, as the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone, have GABAA-receptor modulatory effects and are known to affect memory, learning, appetite, and mood. In women, 4 years chronic treatment with MPA doubles the frequency of dementia and in rats, MPA causes cognitive impairment related to the GABAergic system. Activation of the membrane bound GABAA receptor results in a chloride ion flux that can be studied by whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings. The purpose of this study was to clarify the modulatory effects of MPA and specific MPA metabolites, with structures like known GABAA-receptor modulators, on different GABAA-receptor subtypes. An additional aim was to verify the results as steroid effects on GABA response in single cells taken from rat hypothalamus. HEK-293 cell-lines permanently expressing the recombinant human GABAA-receptor subtype α1β2γ2L or α5β3γ2L or α2β3γ2S were created. The MPA metabolites 3α5α-MPA,3β5α-MPA and 3β5β-MPA were synthesised and purified for electrophysiological patch-clamp measurements with a Dynaflow system. The effects of MPA and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone were also studied. None of the studied MPA metabolites affected the responses mediated by α1β2γ2L or α5β3γ2L GABAA receptors. Contrary, MPA clearly acted both as a positive modulator and as a direct activator of the α5β3γ2L and α2β3γ2S GABAA receptors. However, in concentrations up to 10 μM, MPA was inactive at the α1β2γ2L GABAA receptor. In the patch-clamp recordings from dissociated cells of the preoptic area in rats, MPA increased the amplitude of responses to GABA. In addition, MPA alone without added GABA, evoked a current response. In conclusion, MPA acts as a positive modulator of specific GABAA receptor subtypes expressed in HEK cells and at native GABA receptors in single cells from the hypothalamic preoptic area.
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| 5. |
- Holmberg, Ellinor, et al.
(author)
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Allopregnanolone involvement in feeding regulation, overeating and obesity
- 2018
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In: Frontiers in neuroendocrinology (Print). - : Academic Press. - 0091-3022 .- 1095-6808. ; 48, s. 70-77
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Obesity is strongly associated with ill health, primarily caused by consumption of excessive calories, and promoted (inter alia) by gamma-amino-butyric-acid (GABA) stimulating food intake by activating GABA(A) receptors (primarily with alpha 3 and alpha 2 subunits) in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and paraventricular nucleus. Allopregnanolone is a potent positive GABAA receptor modulating steroid (GAMS). As reviewed here, elevated allopregnanolone levels are associated with increases in food intake, preferences for energy-rich food, and obesity in humans and other mammals. In women with polycystic ovarian disease, high serum allopregnanolone concentrations are linked to uncontrolled eating, and perturbed sensitivity to allopregnanolone. Increases in weight during pregnancy also correlate with increases in allopregnanolone levels. Moreover, Prader-Willis syndrome is associated with massive overeating, absence of a GABA(A) receptor (with compensatory > 12-, > 5- and > 1.5-fold increases in alpha 4, gamma 2, and alpha 1, alpha 3 subunits), and increases in the alpha 4, beta x, delta receptor subtype, which is highly sensitive to allopregnanolone. GABA and positive GABA-A receptor modulating steroids like allopregnanolone stimulates food intake and weight gain.
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| 6. |
- Johansson, Maja, et al.
(author)
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GABAA receptor modulating steroid antagonists (GAMSA) are functional in vivo
- 2016
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In: Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. - : Elsevier. - 0960-0760 .- 1879-1220. ; 160:SI, s. 98-105
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- GABAA receptor modulating steroid antagonists (GAMSA) selectively inhibit neurosteroid-mediated enhancement of GABA-evoked currents at the GABAA receptor. 3α-hydroxy-neurosteroids, notably allopregnanolone and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC), potentiate GABAA receptor-mediated currents. On the contrary, various 3β-hydroxy-steroids antagonize this positive neurosteroid-mediated modulation. Importantly, GAMSAs are specific antagonists of the positive neurosteroid-modulation of the receptor and do not inhibit GABA-evoked currents. Allopregnanolone and THDOC have both negative and positive actions. Allopregnanolone can impair encoding/consolidation and retrieval of memories. Chronic administration of a physiological allopregnanolone concentration reduces cognition in mice models of Alzheimer's disease. In humans an allopregnanolone challenge impairs episodic memory and in hepatic encephalopathy cognitive deficits are accompanied by increased brain ammonia and allopregnanolone. Hippocampal slices react in vitro to ammonia by allopregnanolone synthesis in CA1 neurons, which blocks long-term potentiation (LTP). Thus, allopregnanolone may impair learning and memory by interfering with hippocampal LTP. Contrary, pharmacological treatment with allopregnanolone can promote neurogenesis and positively influence learning and memory of trace eye-blink conditioning in mice. In rat the GAMSA UC1011 inhibits an allopregnanolone-induced learning impairment and the GAMSA GR3027 restores learning and motor coordination in rats with hepatic encephalopathy. In addition, the GAMSA isoallopregnanolone antagonizes allopregnanolone-induced anesthesia in rats, and in humans it antagonizes allopregnanolone-induced sedation and reductions in saccadic eye velocity. 17PA is also an effective GAMSA in vivo, as it antagonizes allopregnanolone-induced anesthesia and spinal analgesia in rats. In vitro the allopregnanolone/THDOC-increased GABA-mediated GABAA receptor activity is antagonized by isoallopregnanolone, UC1011, GR3027 and 17PA, while the effect of GABA itself is not affected.
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| 7. |
- Johansson, Maja, 1962-, et al.
(author)
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GR3027 antagonizes GABA(A) receptor-potentiating neurosteroids and restores spatial learning and motor coordination in rats with chronic hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy
- 2015
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In: American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1857 .- 1522-1547. ; 309:5, s. G400-G409
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is one of the primary complications of liver cirrhosis. Current treatments for HE, mainly directed to reduction of ammonia levels, are not effective enough because they cannot completely eliminate hyperammonemia and inflammation, which induce the neurological alterations. Studies in animal models show that overactivation of GABA(A) receptors is involved in cognitive and motor impairment in HE and that reducing this activation restores these functions. We have developed a new compound, GR3027, that selectively antagonizes the enhanced activation of GABA(A) receptors by neurosteroids such as allopregnanolone and 3 alpha, 21-dihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (THDOC). This work aimed to assess whether GR3027 improves motor incoordination, spatial learning, and circadian rhythms of activity in rats with HE. GR3027 was administered subcutaneously to two main models of HE: rats with chronic hyperammonemia due to ammonia feeding and rats with portacaval shunts (PCS). Motor coordination was assessed in beam walking and spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze and the radial maze. Circadian rhythms of ambulatory and vertical activity were also assessed. In both hyperammonemic and PCS rats, GR3027 restores motor coordination, spatial memory in the Morris water maze, and spatial learning in the radial maze. GR3027 also partially restores circadian rhythms of ambulatory and vertical activity in PCS rats. GR3027 is a novel approach to treatment of HE that would normalize neurological functions altered because of enhanced GABAergic tone, affording more complete normalization of cognitive and motor function than current treatments for HE.
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| 8. |
- Rahman, Mozibur, et al.
(author)
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A comparison of the pharmacological properties of recombinant human and rat α1β2γ2L GABAA receptors in Xenopus oocytes
- 2008
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In: Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology. - : Wiley. - 0305-1870 .- 1440-1681. ; 35:9, s. 1002-1011
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the present study, we compared the pharmacology, particularly neurosteroid modulation of the GABA(A) receptor, between human and rat alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2)(L) GABA(A) receptors and between human receptors containing the long (L) and short (S) forms of the gamma(2)-subunit. We observed that maximum responses to GABA were significantly higher with the human alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2)(L) receptor compared with the rat receptor. In terms of neurosteroid modulation, increases in the EC(15) response to GABA induced by 3alpha-OH-5beta-pregnan-20-one (3alpha5betaP), 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (3alpha5alphaADL) and 5alpha-pregnane-3alpha,20beta-diol (3alpha5alpha-diol) were significantly greater for the rat compared with the human receptor. Responses to 30 micromol/L GABA were inhibited by 3beta-OH-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (UC1010) and 5beta-pregnan-3beta,20(R)-diol (UC1020) to a greater degree for human and rat receptors, respectively. Responses to GABA + 3alpha5alphaTHDOC were inhibited by 5alpha-pregnan-3beta,20(S)-diol (UC1019) and pregnenolone sulphate to a greater degree for human and rat receptors, respectively. The GABA dose-response curves for human alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2)(S) and alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2)(L) receptors were identical. However, the maximum GABA-evoked current, the direct gating effect of pentobarbital and the allosteric potentiation of the GABA EC(15) response by 3alpha5alphaTHDOC and 3alpha5betaP were significantly higher with alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2)(S) than alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2)(L) receptors. Inhibition of the response to 30 micromol/L GABA by UC1010 and UC1020 was greater for a(1)beta(2)gamma(2)(L) and alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2)(S) receptors, respectively. Inhibition of responses to 3alpha5alphaTHDOC + GABA by UC1019 and UC1010 was significantly higher for alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2)(L) receptors. In conclusion, the site of activation by GABA and neurosteroid modulation differ between human and rat alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2)(L) receptors, as well as between human receptors containing the L and S splice variants of the gamma(2)-subunit.
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