Study, 2003
What happens in the brain when progesterone drops that causes premenstrual anxiety?
A laboratory study in animals found that specific brain receptors increase when progesterone drops, which may explain why anxiety increases before the period. This is animal research; much more study is needed to see if this applies to humans.
What they did
Laboratory study in rodents examining brain activity and anxiety-related behaviors during progesterone withdrawal, which mimics what happens before menstruation.
What they found
A specific type of brain receptor increased after progesterone withdrawal. Drugs that target this receptor were much more effective at reducing anxiety-like behavior during progesterone withdrawal than in normal conditions. This suggests the receptor changes after progesterone drops may be related to premenstrual anxiety.
What it means for you
This finding suggests one possible mechanism for why anxiety increases before your period. However, this is animal research conducted in rodents. We don't yet know if the same mechanism applies to humans or if these findings will lead to new treatments.
1.25 mg/kg
gaboxadol dose (animal)
10 mg/kg
pentobarbital dose (animal)
About the study
- Original title
- Progesterone withdrawal increases the anxiolytic actions of gaboxadol: role of alpha4betadelta GABA(A) receptors
- Authors
- Gulinello M, Gong QH, Smith SS
- Journal
- Neuroreport
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- progesterone withdrawal and drug testing in animal model
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00001756-200301200-00008
Topics
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