Bernardi F, Pluchino N, Begliuomini S, Lenzi E, Palumbo M, Luisi M, Genazzani A R
Department of Reproductive Medicine and Child Development, Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Gynecol Endocrinol. 2004 Dec;19(6):344-53. doi: 10.1080/09513590400018223.
Allopregnanolone, a neurosteroid acting as a potent anxiolytic agonist of the gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor, has been shown in animal models to modify its concentrations at central and peripheral levels according to the estrous cycle. Moreover, it modulates behavioral and biochemical responses to acute and chronic stress, anxiety, depression, aggressiveness, convulsions, anesthesia, sleep, memory, pain and feeding. These observations suggest that fluctuations of allopregnanolone might be involved in the development, course and prognosis of some mental disorders in humans. This has been hypothesized for depressive disorders, premenstrual dysphoria, anorexia and bulimia nervosa and Alzheimer's disease, where increased, decreased or dysregulated secretion of the main neurosteroids and their metabolites has been observed. Women show a marked gender-related sensitivity to disadaptive disorders. In addition to the well-studied role of sex steroids in modulating mood and behavior, a putative involvement of neurosteroid fluctuations, and in particular of allopregnanolone, has recently been hypothesized. In fact, several paraphysiological events and various disadaptive disorders in women are associated with modifications of circulating levels of this neurosteroid that might associated with a certain vulnerability to an altered adaptation to stressful life events.
别孕烯醇酮是一种神经甾体，作为γ-氨基丁酸A受体的强效抗焦虑激动剂，在动物模型中已显示其在中枢和外周水平的浓度会根据发情周期而改变。此外，它还能调节对急性和慢性应激、焦虑、抑郁、攻击性、惊厥、麻醉、睡眠、记忆、疼痛和进食的行为和生化反应。这些观察结果表明，别孕烯醇酮的波动可能与人类某些精神障碍的发生、病程和预后有关。这一假设适用于抑郁症、经前烦躁障碍、神经性厌食症和神经性贪食症以及阿尔茨海默病，在这些疾病中已观察到主要神经甾体及其代谢产物的分泌增加、减少或失调。女性对适应不良性障碍表现出明显的性别相关敏感性。除了性类固醇在调节情绪和行为方面已得到充分研究的作用外，最近有人假设神经甾体波动，尤其是别孕烯醇酮的波动可能与之有关。事实上，女性的一些副生理事件和各种适应不良性障碍与这种神经甾体循环水平的改变有关，这可能与对压力性生活事件适应改变的某种易感性有关。
