Low Serum Allopregnanolone Is Associated with Symptoms of Depression in Late Pregnancy

Background: Allopregnanolone (3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one) is a neurosteroid which has an inhibitory function through interaction with the GABA A receptor. This progesterone metabolite has strong sedative and anxiolytic properties, and low endogenous levels have been associated with depressed mood....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuropsychobiology Vol. 69; no. 3; pp. 147 - 153
Main Authors: Hellgren, Charlotte, Åkerud, Helena, Skalkidou, Alkistis, Bäckström, Torbjörn, Sundström-Poromaa, Inger
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2014
Subjects:
Adult
Allopregnanolone
Anxiety
Anxiety - blood
Depression
Depression - blood
Depression, Postpartum - blood
Female
Humans
MADRS-S
Medical Science
Medicinsk vetenskap
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale
Neuroscience
neurosteroid
Neurovetenskap
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Obstetrik och gynekologi
Original Paper
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications - blood
Pregnancy Trimester, Third - blood
Pregnanolone - blood
Self Report
Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
STAI
Young Adult
Pregnancy
Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Depression
Anxiety
Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale
Allopregnanolone
ISSN:0302-282X, 1423-0224, 1423-0224
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background: Allopregnanolone (3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one) is a neurosteroid which has an inhibitory function through interaction with the GABA A receptor. This progesterone metabolite has strong sedative and anxiolytic properties, and low endogenous levels have been associated with depressed mood. This study aimed to investigate whether the very high serum allopregnanolone levels in late pregnancy covary with concurrent self-rated symptoms of depression and anxiety. Methods: Ninety-six women in pregnancy weeks 37-40 rated symptoms of depression and anxiety with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S) and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Their serum allopregnanolone was analyzed by Celite chromatography and radioimmunoassay. Results: Ten women had elevated depression scores (MADRS-S ≥13), and this group had significantly lower allopregnanolone levels compared to women with MADRS-S scores in the normal range (39.0 ± 17.9 vs. 54.6 ± 18.7 nmol/l, p = 0.014). A significant negative correlation was found between self-rated depression scores and allopregnanolone concentrations (Pearson's correlation coefficient = -0.220, p = 0.031). The linear association between self-rated depression scores and allopregnanolone serum concentrations remained significant when adjusted for gestational length, progesterone levels, and parity. Self-rated anxiety, however, was not associated with allopregnanolone serum concentrations during pregnancy. Conclusion: High allopregnanolone serum concentrations may protect against depressed mood during pregnancy.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
content type line 23
ObjectType-Article-2
ObjectType-Feature-1
ISSN:0302-282X
1423-0224
1423-0224
DOI:10.1159/000358838