Timby E, Balgård M, Nyberg S, Spigset O, Andersson A, Porankiewicz-Asplund J, Purdy RH, Zhu D, Bäckström T, Poromaa IS. Pharmacokinetic and behavioral effects of allopregnanolone in healthy women.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2006;
186:414-24. [PMID:
16177884 DOI:
10.1007/s00213-005-0148-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2005] [Accepted: 07/28/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE
The behavioral effects of allopregnanolone (3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one) in women are not known.
OBJECTIVE
Allopregnanolone, a neuroactive steroid secreted by the mammalian ovary, exerts its anesthetic, anxiolytic, and sedative/hypnotic effects through potentiation of GABAA receptors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the behavioral effects of allopregnanolone in healthy women.
METHODS
Ten healthy women were given three increasing intravenous doses of allopregnanolone in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Saccadic eye movement parameters and visual analogue scales of sedation were used to evaluate the behavioral response of allopregnanolone. Repeated blood samples for analyses of allopregnanolone were drawn throughout the study day.
RESULTS
Exogenously administered allopregnanolone decreases saccadic eye movement parameters and increases subjective ratings of sedation that correlate with increased serum concentrations of this neuroactive steroid.
CONCLUSION
The behavioral effects of allopregnanolone are similar to that of its 5beta-stereoisomer, pregnanolone (3alpha-hydroxy-5beta-pregnan-20-one). Apart from fatigue and mild nausea, allopregnanolone given in a cumulative dose of 0.09 mg/kg did not have any adverse effects.
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