Effects of progesterone on some brain neurotransmitters in intact rats.

In: Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology · 1992 · vol. 36(4) , pp. 255–8 · PMID:1363321 · W2463437267
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Progesterone reduced noradrenaline levels in multiple rat brain regions within 4 hours, and at 48 hours with estrogen pretreatment, suggesting a potential mechanism for oral contraceptive effects and a risk of depression.

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Abstract

Effects of progesterone on four neurotransmitters (viz, noradrenaline, 5-HT, dopamine and histamine) of brain were seen in rats with intact ovaries. It was found that progesterone lowers the noradrenaline concentration in medulla, pons, midbrain, hypothalamus, thalami and pituitary, uniformly, when the rats were killed within 4 hours of progesterone injection. At longer intervals (48 hrs) effects of progesterone were seen when progesterone in heavy dose was administered to rats pretreated with estrogen. It is likely that one of the modes of action of the oral contraceptives may be the reduction of noradrenaline content in selected areas of brain, by progesterone. It is also suggested, therapeutic usage of progesterone carries the risk of development of depression in the user.

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SciLite annotations

chemicals 12
progesterone progesterone noradrenaline dopamine histamine progesterone noradrenaline progesterone estrogen noradrenaline progesterone progesterone
organisms 3
rattus sp. rattus sp. rattus sp.

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